Mark Robinson names his top 50 players after the 2019 AFL season
Is Dustin Martin the 14th-best player in the AFL, well behind one of his teammates? After Robbo released his exclusive list fans are having their say — and there’s some surprising results. See the full list and vote on every player.
Mark Robinson
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Is Dustin Martin the 14th-best player in the AFL, well behind teammate Bachar Houli? And Patrick Dangerfield further down the list?
Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson revealed his exclusive top 50 earlier this week — and now footy fans are voting their own best of the best.
As of today more than 40,000 votes had been cast across the country — and there are some surprising results.
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Dusty and Danger are just a few of the competition’s headline acts who have been shunted down the list of the ‘Reader’s Top 50’.
A couple of other high-profile Cats took a hit as readers voted by clicking on agreed, underrated or agree.
Tiger Dion Prestia and Lion Charlie Cameron are among other who copped steep demotions.
Scroll down to see Robbo’s Top 50 — and then see how readers have judged the list.
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ROBBO: WHY DUSTY IS THE MAN
It’s possible Dustin Martin could end his career as Richmond’s greatest player.
Ask Royce Hart, and he says there’s still an “if’’.
“If he can win another couple of premierships, and it’s on the cards, you never know where he’s going to be rated,’’ Hart said.
Could he the greatest?
“I don’t know, it’s not me to judge. He’s certainly done No.4 proud, I’ll say that.’’
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL TOP 50 AND VOTE ON EVERY PLAYER
Martin is 28, has played 224 games — and maybe has another 140 games in him — is a two-time premiership player, two-time Norm Smith medallist, has a Brownlow, an AFL MVP and two best-and-fairest awards.
Already, he has joined Gary Ablett, Michael Voss, Chris Judd and Lance Franklin as the pre-eminent AFL players of the century.
Unquestionably, he is being spoken of as Richmond royalty.
There’s five at the Tigers in rare air — Jack Dyer, Kevin Bartlett, Hart, Ian Stewart and Jack “Skinny’’ Titus — and Martin might’ve jumped ahead of the likes of Francis Bourke, Roger Dean and Vic Thorp, all Richmond “Immortals’’.
Yep, he had that kind of season, and it’s why he’s No.1 in this year’s Top 50.
He kicked six goals in the first final against Brisbane, four goals and the Norm Smith in the Grand Final and 12 goals overall through the finals series.
Nat Fyfe had a terrific season, the Patricks — Dangerfield and Cripps — were often breathtaking and Marcus Bontempelli sublime, yet Martin just gets it done when it matters most.
Hart, also the wearer of the No.4 at Tigerland, says Martin stands above them, and every other player since 1966, in one category.
“The best thing about him, and I don’t think they highlight it enough, but I reckon he’s the best disposal of the ball, by hand and foot, I’ve seen in my time in football.’’
That’s 53 seasons for Hart.
“I saw the Farmers, the Williams, the Barassis and Skiltons, and if you took statistics on what he does with the ball, you’d find by hand and foot he’d have the best percentage of effective kicks and handball of anyone.
“He’s got a big rap on him for his ability to shrug players who are trying to tackle him, but if you look at what he does when he has the ball, it’s always to advantage.
“A lot of players these days, in my opinion, half their stats are handballs and kicks to get themselves out of trouble ... ineffective.’’
Hart naturally loves Martin the forward more than Martin the midfielder.
This year, Martin spent 43 per cent of game time up forward and 57 per cent in the midfield, which was a significantly up compared to his 2017 and 2018 seasons, when the split was 29 per cent forward and 71 per cent midfield.
“I said to Mike Sheahan four years ago, I’d put Dusty at centre half-forward,’’ Hart said.
“He’s exactly the same height and weight (as I was) when I played.
“He’s an effective goalkicker, which adds to his bag of tricks.
“But he’s certainly the best user of the ball that I’ve seen.
“I’m not saying he’s as good as Greg Williams at handball or Polly (Farmer) at handball, and (Bob) Skilton was very good with both left and right feet, and Stewie (Ian Stewart) was magnificent, but to go forward and be that effective.’’
Dusty’s a crowd-puller, Hart said.
“I think it’s about race horses and Winx, people go and see them, and in football, they go see players who are worthwhile, and he’s in that class.
“He’s what footy needs.
“And with Richmond winning two out of three, he’s gone into a different league compared to other players.’’
Martin is one of seven Tigers to make the top 50 — and that doesn’t include Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin who, like GWS playmaker Stephen Coniglio, missed too much of the season because of injury.
The seven are: Martin, Dion Prestia (9), Tom Lynch (18), Dylan Grimes (20), Bachar Houli (24), Shane Edwards (26) and Nick Vlastuin (41).
Prestia was the best-and-fairest winner and was so productive in the middle, it allowed Martin to play more forward. Edwards arguably had a career-best season playing back, midfield and forward.
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Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy, Geelong’s Tim Kelly, Brisbane’s Lachie Neale and Melbourne’s Max Gawn round out the top 10.
Neale was more accomplished than I previously thought, while Kelly was acknowledged by the umpires and coaches for his stellar season.
There will be discussion about why Gawn was so highly rated when his team was so poor, but the same could be said of Fyfe and the Dockers.
Other first-timers include Charlie Cameron (16), Nick Haynes (22), Josh Dunkley (25), Tim Taranto (30), Brad Hill (43), Hugh McCluggage (44), Zac Williams (40) and Rowan Marshall (47).
I suspect the athletic Saints big man, who was a revelation this year, will be a top 50 regular.