Richmond great Royce Hart backs Dustin Martin’s retirement call

The most revered figure to wear Richmond’s famous No.4 before Dustin Martin has backed the modern-day star’s retirement call and lauded the legacy he will leave at Punt Road.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: Dustin Martin of the Tigers celebrates a goal with teammates during the 2024 AFL Round 14 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Hawthorn Hawks at The Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 15, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Richmond legend Royce Hart says the man who carried his famous No.4 onto more greatness in the modern era, Dustin Martin, has made the best decision of his celebrated career by retiring on his terms to remain a one-club champion.

And Hart implored the Tigers to potentially hold fire on handing out Dusty’s coveted No.4 next season, saying they should take their time in assigning it to the right candidate in the future.

Hart, who was made an official Australian football Hall of Fame Legend in 2013, is confident Martin will one day join that exalted company, saying the three-time Norm Smith Medal winner had transformed the game across his 15-season, 302-game, three-flag AFL career.

RANKED: DUSTIN MARTIN’S 10 GREATEST GAMES

He said Martin was unquestionably one of the greatest Tigers in the club’s long and proud history.

“This is a classic example of a bloke making the right decision,” Hart told the Herald Sun. “Bugger the money, I didn’t want him playing another season or two at another club.

“This is the best thing he could have done. He wouldn’t fit in at a new club so I reckon he has made the right call to retire now.

“I don’t want to remember him hobbling around and getting caught in tackles he would have once broken.

“His legacy at Richmond and his legacy to football will stand forever. What he has done can’t ever be undone, but I wanted to see him go out now rather than playing on for too long.”

Royce Hart says Dustin Martin has made the right call to retire.

Martin announced he had played his last game on Tuesday. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Hart, 76, said Martin had changed football in the way he used his ‘Don’t Argue’ as a weapon to not just evade opponents, but to use brute strength to swat them aside.

Martin made that art form, which ended up being a huge part of his impact on Richmond throughout the club’s three premierships in four seasons (2017, 2019 and 2020).

Asked what he would remember most about Martin, Hart said: “The grand finals, obviously, but to me, the lasting memory of Dusty is seeing him avoid tackles like no one could. He just pushed people off him. I can’t think of anyone in footy who did it better than Martin.”

A finals freak. But don’t ever forget his extraordinary consistency from his debut season onwards. 10.2 in the three GFs but also six against Brisbane in a Gabba qualifying final & won the Port prelim at Adelaide Oval off his own boot. The complete career https://t.co/BHNLoM1caRpic.twitter.com/1yW7nfMZWW

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) August 5, 2024

Hart helped to make Richmond’s No.4 one of the most revered jumpers in the club’s history, across 171 games and four premierships.

Martin has carried on tradition, making his number the most reproduced on the backs of Tigers fans.

Hart said he would have no problem with the club holding back issuing the number after Martin’s retirement until it finds the right candidate who can deal with the pressure that will come with taking on the revered guernsey number.

“I don’t know who is going to get it next,” Hart said. “I don’t know if there is anyone there at the moment who is the right fit for it.

“I would like to see it go to the right person who can do well in Dusty’s and my number … So if they have to wait, that’s fine.”

BROAD ON DUSTY’S DEPARTURE

- Blair Burns

Richmond defender Nathan Broad has lifted the lid on the retirement of one the greatest players of the modern era, Dustin Martin.

In typical Dusty fashion, Broad said the announcement to the playing group on Tuesday was “short and sweet”.

“It was a nice little speech from Dustin, it’s a shame that a career must come to an end for one of the greats,” Broad told Triple M.

“It was all about the club, the players and staff, nothing about Dustin Martin.”

Broad said it had been a privilege to have played alongside one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.

Adding that it was something that he wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate until after his playing days had concluded.

Dustin Martin with Nathan Broad after his final game. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s one of the most selfless players I’ve played with, he kicked a lot of amazing goals but you look at most of them and he always has a look inside first to see if there’s a better option,” he said.

“He didn’t like it in front of the camera, but absolutely loved the club, loved the boys, loved the Tiger army … he’s such a caring person and I’m lucky I got to play alongside him.”

Broad said it was anybody’s guess as to what Martin’s future looked like, but he knew that it wouldn’t be a job in the media.

The 31-year-old suggested a move to be with family and some golf practice could be on the cards for the three-time premiership hero.

“I’m not sure what he will do. Dustin stays pretty private, he loves New Zealand and obviously he’s got family there and loves the countryside,” he said.

“He has really found a love for golf and it’s probably been the best thing for him to be honest, it’s that thing he had away from footy that he could just switch off and enjoy.

“He started off shocking but he’s getting pretty good.”

Of Martin’s illustrious 302 games, one of them stood out as a particularly special memory for Broad.

Dusty celebrates a goal in the 2020 grand final. Picture: Sarah Reed

Martin’s numbers for this game included 21 disposals, four goals, five clearances and nine score involvements.

“It’s hard to go past 2020, we were down and out, we were gone and then he turned superhuman and kicked that bag of goals,” Broad said.

“It’s been pretty special to sit front row seats to a lot of things he’s done.”

“It’ll be good for the fans to say one last goodbye to him for everything he has done for the footy club.”

Originally published as Richmond great Royce Hart backs Dustin Martin’s retirement call