Richmond wins through to first Grand Final since 1982 with big win over GWS Giants

DUSTIN Martin proved he belongs in the finals cauldron, Trent Cotchin played a true captain’s knock and Alex Rance was impassable. This was Richmond at it’s best.

Dustin Martin celebrates a goal in Richmond’s preliminary final win.

A COACH plays arguably the game’s best onballer at full forward and a strong mark in the pocket and a beautiful snap from a difficult angle in the shadows of three-quarter time puts his team into the Grand Final.

A free kick for grappling and he scores another. A third at the start of the fourth is just too easy.

Unfortunately for Chris Scott, we’re talking about Dustin Martin, not Patrick Dangerfield.

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The cream rose to the top at the MCG, it took a while, but it rose and it will be bubbling in a fury at the same venue in a week’s time.

On Monday night Martin is a short-priced favourite to claim the Brownlow Medal. He’d be the favourite for the Norm Smith now too after another scintillating finals display.

The Tigers started brightly and Martin had his hand in it. Two actually.

Jack Riewoldt celebrates a goal during the preliminary final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

When a prolific Trent Cotchin scored a free kick and banged it forward to a pack, Martin was front and square and grabbed the ball and put his foot down before handballing to Kane Lambert.

Martin helped with the second score too. Two handballs, two score involvements in the opening minutes.

Martin started in the middle, always moving, always lurking. He wasn’t heroic in the first, but he’s such an impact player.

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As a forward he was his most damaging.

The Giants were cleaner and fast, so fast. Their goals seemed to be scored easier, in the first half anyway because after that, it was the Tigers who burned up the turf at the ‘G.

Martin was dancing on the wing. He bobbed and bopped, waltzing forward to set up the Jacob Townsend goal, which gave the Tigers a two-goal lead in the third term.

Richmond players congratulate Daniel Rioli after he kicked a goal.

Stephen Coniglio went to Martin, so did Zac Williams. When Martin was forward it was Heath Shaw.

Like in a velodrome Martin kept looking back at the veteran, teasing him as to when he was going to make his move.

Shaw was outfoxed and sweated out, and when he held Martin in the goal square the Brownlow favourite was given a free and kicked his second to cement the game.

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As Richmond fan Tony Stockman said from behind the goals: “He’s such a good player, but now you get to really see how good he is, in finals.”

Following the match, Martin paid tribute to his father, Shane, who is in New Zealand.

“I wish you were here tonight, I know you’re watching, I love ya, ” Martin said post-match.

Dustin Martin kicks Richmond into attack as Steve Johnson chases.

Alex Rance was again a strength down back while Cotchin, who could be in trouble for a high hit on Dylan Shiel who was concussed, was formidable, especially in the third term when the Tigers won the game.

Jason Castagna, one of the Tigers fleet of small forwards, had a day to forget in front of goal. He missed a sitter in the second and moments later he missed another set shot.

Jack Riewoldt didn’t do much either before he kicked his first late in the fourth. But that simply encapsulates the new Richmond. They’re a good team.

When Martin’s leg got stuck under him in a contest with Shaw in the third term and the whole stadium held its breath, even the umpire stopped play.

Martin was down, but not for the count. He rose again, as did the Tigers, and he booted Richmond into a Grand Final.

ELIZA SEWELL’S VOTES

3. Trent Cotchin

2. Dustin Martin

1. Daniel Rioli

BEST

Richmond: T.Cotchin, D.Martin, D.Rioli, A.Rance, K.Lambert, D.Grimes, D/Prestia

GWS Giants: C.Ward, J.Kelly, Z.Williams, P.Davis, T.Scully, A.Tomlinson