Patrick Dangerfield or Dustin Martin: Who would you pick first?

TWO of the game’s most explosive players — Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin — go head to head next week. MARK ROBINSON asks five revered names footy’s toughest question.

THE game within the game is as anticipated as the game itself.

It’s Richmond v Geelong — Dusty v Danger.

Two of the three most explosive and captivating players in the AFL — sorry, won’t be leaving out Buddy Franklin — will go head to head at the MCG next Friday night.

About 90,000 fans will be there, millions more will be watching on TV in bars, pubs, lounge rooms and on neighbours’ couches.

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Intrigue and excitement abound.

Dangerfield can’t win the Brownlow Medal because of suspension, but he can win more than that with an epic September, starting against the Tigers on Friday.

Martin will win the Brownlow, but it means less than what he can produce over the next four weeks, starting against the Cats.

Let’s hope they go shoulder to shoulder at stoppages. Let’s hope they bullock and bash their way to freedom with the footy. Let’s hope we see bull versus bull to the end.

The pressure is on Dangerfield because he simply has to take this team to the Grand Final.

The pressure is on Martin because he’s the king, Richmond is back, and if he’s quiet, the Tigers will be, too.

So who’s more important? Who’s the better? Who, if they were lined up against the wall, would you take with your first pick?

Dustin Martin is a raging favourite for the Brownlow Medal. Picture: Michael Klein

IAN STEWART

“I’VE got Dangerfield narrowly in front.

“Dangerfield in recent times has got so many possessions in the last quarter to win games for his side.

“His clearance work is first class; he’s got great agility; great recovery in that when he loses balance he recovers that quickly he’s got a chance to win possessions; he’s a prodigious mark for his size. He’s a magnificent player.

“He’s a lot better player now than when he was in Adelaide. This year is better than his last year and last year was a lot better than his time in Adelaide. He’s stepped up.

“Danger wins his own ball. He reads it beautifully off the pack in the centre square. And he does a lot of his best work not so much in the midfield.

“Dustin has similar attributes. He reads the ball very well, is an extremely team-orientated, extremely unselfish player and I’d like to think if he keeps on improving at the present rate, he’ll be ... look, I don’t think he’s the equal to Dangerfield at this stage. But he’s a terrific player.

”He reminds me of Tim Watson — pushes off and accelerates from the pack. Watson was a great player but sometimes he didn’t get the recognition. There was no better player than Tim Watson at the time he was playing.’’

Last weekend, Stewart presented Martin with the Ian Stewart Medal for best afield in the Tigers-Saints game.

“He gave it to himself, I reckon,” he said.

“A person with bad eyesight would have picked him. I can see him improving another 20 or 30 per cent. What is he, 26? You reach your peak at 27, 28 29. You reach maturity, self confidence, belief.’’

Stewart is friends with Martin’s uncle and has spoken with Martin several times. Asked if they had spoken about Martin’s latest situation, Stewart said: “No, he’s never asked me.’’

GREG WILLIAMS

“I THINK Dusty is better — I feel his kicking is better than Dangerfield’s, not so much more powerful, but he’s a gun kick.

“Dangerfield is a superstar, obviously, but I would take Dusty.

“It’s hard to pick because Danger can go forward — he kicked five goals the other week — but Dusty can go forward and kick goals as well.

“It’s difficult to split them and I don’t watch them every week, but when you see some of the stuff Dusty is doing, it’s hard not to pick him.

“But it’s also hard not to pick Dangerfield, too.

“Dangerfield is just such a powerful athlete. He looks like a better runner than Dustin. You know, he’s more athletic than Dustin.

“Dangerfield has had an amazing career. Dusty’s taken a few years to get there, but he’s bloody there now.

“Dusty brings more people into the game than Danger. Danger I feel ... even like the early days of Juddy when he used to just run out of the pack and kick it. Juddy was a freak as well, but I really think Danger could use the ball better. He breaks out and causes mayhem, but he could cause more if he gave it off now and then.”

PAUL KELLY

“I HAVE to pick one, don’t I? Righto, I have to admit I don’t see these blokes play all the time, but if I have to take one, I’d probably take (pause) ... maybe Martin, I reckon.

“Maybe he’s a bit better field kick. Maybe Dangerfield might just get it and kick it long more often than Martin.

“I know when I watch Danger he kicks it a long way and some of the time it’s deep into the forward line, whereas Martin is probably a bit more to the player, or to the right spot. That’s why I would take Martin. He’s probably got a bit more grunt in him.

“Dangerfield comes across as a really nice guy, you know what I mean, whereas Martin’s got that tiny element in him. You know, when Plugger (Tony Lockett) was playing he wasn’t joking. he was going to hurt you.

“Dangerfield can do it all. He’s a big, strong midfielder. he puts the burners on and he’s gone. He’s got some grunt and he can go forward and take a real good mark and he will kick you goals. He can win you a game. Martin can as well.

“They walk around as if they are the best player, which I like about them. Some might see it as arrogance, but I reckon if you go out there thinking you’re the best player on the ground it helps you. They know there’s a fair weight on their shoulders about how their team performs. I don’t mind that.”

Kelly, who lives in Wagga, has five children — three boys, two girls — and says his sporting experiences now revolve around them and football has lost him somewhat.

“I don’t go the footy much,” he said.

“Dangerfield and Martin are great players but, back in my day, Plugger used to drag people to the footy, Gary Ablett used to drag them. Do people get dragged to watch these two? I don’t know.

“What about Joel Selwood, I love watching him. He’s ridiculous.”

Patrick Dangerfield won the Brownlow last year and his next challenge is to life the Cats to a premiership. Picture: Michael Klein

MARK RICCIUTO

“YOU’D be splitting hairs, wouldn’t you?

“I feel like I know Danger better, obviously because of Adelaide, and as everyone knows now he likes the big stage on and off the field. Whether it’s in the media or on the MCG, he’s very, very comfortable.

“One thing you know about Danger is he’s going to perform in the big game. It doesn’t intimidate him, it doesn’t scare him, he looks forward to it.

“If you’re talking like I’m talking now, then all his teammates are thinking it, his coaches are thinking it, and that’s important when you go into battle — you just know he’s going to perform.

“I guess the query on Dusty, and don’t take this as a negative because I wouldn’t talk negatively about him, but I’m not sure of his record in finals yet because he’s hardly played any.’’

Martin has played in three finals. In 2015, he had 21 disposals in the loss to North Melbourne. In 2014, he had 29 disposals in the loss to Port Adelaide. In 2013, he had 19 disposals in the loss to Carlton.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how he performs in this game you’re talking about because it’s fair to say it will be the biggest game of his life,” Ricciuto said.

“That’s not to say he’s not going to be a big-game player in finals, and Darren Jarman only did it towards the end of his career on the big stage.

“But the only reason I would pick Danger in front of Dusty is because I know what he will do in big games and Dusty is yet to do it. But I wouldn’t doubt it he’s not going to do it, either.

“I like Danger forward as much as I do in the midfield and I think those sort of weapons in finals are dangerous. But, gee, this is hard. It’s like picking your favourite child.”

SIMON BLACK

“Dangerfield. He’s just that little more explosive. We’re splitting hairs, but he has the ability to go forward and impact the scoreboard that little bit more than Dusty.

“Richmond fans would argue Dusty doesn’t spend as much time forward as Danger. I don’t know, maybe it’s just the eye-catching thing with Danger compared to Dusty.

“Dusty is a better shot for goal, he’s a better kick than Danger — Danger kicks too many ’copters.

Danger’s maybe done it for longer — that elite, higher level for longer.

“Chris Judd was the best I saw at getting the ball in close and getting out into space through explosive speed and power.

“Danger in some ways takes it to another level, from winning the ball at ground level and being able to quickly, whether it’s fending off one or two or just getting out ... his explosive pace is the best I’ve seen.

“I reckon Danger would be slightly quicker than what Juddy would’ve been as a 27-year-old.

“Danger’s sheer, brutal pace to get out and get separation from a congested bunch of players is as good as I’ve seen.

“I remember I tried to chase him on a wing one day and all my teammates were p---ing themselves laughing at me.

“I see Dusty as really smooth. He’s got better when the ball comes off the ruckman’s hands. He keeps moving, changing angles.

“He’s hard to play because he continues to move. And the fend gets him into more space out of congestion.

“Beautiful kick. He has real composure when he gets in space.

“I’m excited about seeing Dusty play finals. I think he has the temperament. I don’t know him, but from the outside he seems to have a great temperament for the big stage.’’