Richmond’s “Don’t Argue” documentary reveals Sydney’s ploy to draft Dustin Martin in 2009

In an extraordinary documentary about Dustin Martin’s Richmond career it can be revealed just how close the Tiger icon was to pulling on the colours of a rival club.

Sydney hatched an 11th hour plan to pinch teenage star Dustin Martin from Richmond’s grasp just before the 2009 national draft in a move that could have changed the fortunes of both clubs.

But as Richmond’s compelling documentary on Martin’s extraordinary AFL career, Don’t Argue, revealed, long-time Tigers’ recruiting guru Francis Jackson was never going to give up access to the kid he predicted would one day win a Brownlow Medal.

In the documentary which will air on the club’s website on Wednesday night, Jackson detailed how the Swans made a late pitch to trade picks six and 14 for Richmond’s prized No.3.

With Melbourne tipped to nominate Tom Scully and Jack Trengove as the first two players selected, Martin loomed large on the radar as pick three for the Tigers, but also for Sydney.

So the Swans offered up their two first-round selections in an effort to move up the draft order, but Jackson knew more than enough about Martin’s potential to knock the deal on its head without even taking it to newly-appointed Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.

Dustin Martin with Damien Hardwick on draft day 2009. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“Sydney were very keen on Dusty and they wanted to trade picks six and 14 for our pick three,” Jackson told Don’t Argue.

“Now normally you would discuss that, and you would take your time (in making a decision). But we didn’t even discuss it. It was never going to happen.”

Having closely watched and been wowed by Martin’s brute strength, exquisite kicking skills and game-breaking qualities for more than a year, Jackson was always going to reject the ambitious Sydney offer.

Having missed out on Martin, the Swans ultimately chose Gary Rohan with pick six and Lewis Jetta with pick 14 in the 2009 draft.

Both finished their careers at other AFL clubs.

Jackson recounted: “I do recall very vividly his (Martin’s) manager ringing me (just before the draft) and saying ‘Guess what, Melbourne is taking Tom Scully and Jack Trengove (at picks one and two), who were both terrific players, so I did something unusual.”

“I organised a lunch with (Martin’s) mum and his grandma, and I actually told them we were taking Dustin with pick three.

“Unless something radically changes, Dustin was going to be a Tiger.”

Martin will become the seventh Richmond player to reach 300 games on Saturday when the Tigers take on Hawthorn.

Famously, the pick worked out pretty well for the Tigers. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Martin’s former coach and now Gold Coast mentor Damien Hardwick became emotional when interviewed for the Don’t Argue documentary. He almost teared up when discussing how much Martin had taught him about life.

“Francis (Jackson) was adamant he was our guy,” Hardwick said when asked about the lead-up to the 2009 draft.

“It was my first year as coach and I sort of handed it over to the recruiters. I hadn’t watched a lot of under 18s footy but I remember watching his tapes and he (Martin) was just dominating.

“He was doing things at under 18s level that you saw at AFL level, just taking on blokes and bowling them over, pushing them over.”

Former Richmond president Peggy O’Neal recalled a conversation she had with Jackson before that famous draft.

“I remember before the draft Francis Jackson saying ‘we have got to keep this under wraps … There is this great young footballer that I think we can get.’

“He (Jackson) likes everyone he drafts, but he was particularly keen on (Martin) because he will be a Brownlow medallist one day. He doesn’t say that lightly.”

Martin with fellow Richmond 300 game players, Kevin Bartlett, Shane Edwards, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Francis Bourke. Picture: Michael Willson

Hardwick admitted he had feared at stages of the club’s stunning 2017 drought-breaking season – the year Martin won his Brownlow Medal – that his superstar would leave, given the huge offers in front of him.

He was standing around his kitchen bench at the time when Martin called to tell him he was staying.

“I squealed like a 12-year-old schoolboy,” Hardwick said of the moment Martin called him to tell him he was remaining at Punt Rd.

Richmond’s documentary Don’t Argue, chronicling Martin’s rise from junior star to Richmond legend, will air at 7.30pm on Wednesday on the club’s website.

Originally published as Richmond’s “Don’t Argue” documentary reveals Sydney’s ploy to draft Dustin Martin in 2009