Why Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin have made the Brownlow Medal a two-horse race

PATRICK Dangerfield and Dustin Martin have spurred each other to elevate their games to new heights. JON ANDERSON looks at why the Brownlow Medal is a two-horse race.

Danger and Dusty’s on-field battles could decide the Brownlow Medal.

YOU need to wind back the VFL-AFL clock 80-odd years to find a pair of midfielders who have dominated the competition like Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin.

“Paddy” and “Dusty” are the Haydn Bunton and Dick Reynolds of their time, the latter pair combining for a remarkable six of eight Brownlow Medals from 1931-38.

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As it stands the Dangerfield-Martin double has only won one, but you will take very short odds about one of them not saluting this season.

Will Bruce McAvaney be saluting Dusty or Danger on Brownlow Medal night this year? Picture: Wayne Ludbey

As unalike as they are off the field — Dangerfield extroverted and proud, Martin as shy as a church mouse — their on-field deeds in 2017 almost mirror each other.

It’s as if they are spurring each other on, just as legendary goalkickers Jason Dunstall (145 goals) and Tony Lockett (132) did in 1992, or Peter Hudson (146) and Peter McKenna (143) 22 years earlier.

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“Don’t worry, I always wanted to know after a game what Plugger had kicked that day,” admitted Dunstall last year.

AFL games record holder Brent “Boomer” Harvey (432 matches) has no doubt they are aware of the rivalry: “It’s like they are edging each other to get better and better and say righto ‘I’ve had 30 and kicked three, what are you going to do tomorrow?’

“Dangerfield is one of the most powerful midfielders to have played the game, one of the very best players of the past 30 years. But Martin has taken his game to new levels due to his increased fitness. Plus he’s getting the ball in better positions.

Danger and Dusty’s on-field battles could decide the Brownlow Medal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“The best thing about both of them is they are goalkicking midfielders. There have been many outstanding midfielders, Shane Crawford and Robert Harvey spring to mind, but not goalkicking midfielders.

“These two can kick two, three or four a game. I know they rest forward, but they still kick goals from the midfield and that makes them so hard when you are planning for a game.”

Like Harvey, Nick Dal Santo also retired last year, having played 322 matches. At times throughout his career he played for short periods on both Dangerfield and Martin, now he admires them from the other side of the fence.

Yesterday he was asked to compare and ultimately make a choice.

Patrick Dangerfield has been a monster in 2017. Picture: Getty Images

Patrick Dangerfield: “A competitive beast who has an exceptional ability to win it inside and then get it on the outside. But what he has done this year which stands out to me more than ever, is stand up in the last quarter when needed.”

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“In a school debate it’s the last person who speaks to you that you remember most and I reckon that’s what Dangerfield is doing this year. It normally gets them over the line. He knows exactly when to impose himself on a game. It’s hard to be better than last year but he’s certainly similar. He brings other teammates into the game more than he did last year.

Dustin Martin: “It’s like having the same conversation as we just did about Dangerfield. Maybe the difference is Dusty plays as a legitimate forward for longer periods. But like Danger he’s as strong as anyone for his height and weight.

Dustin Martin has elevated his game to another level. Picture: AAP

“Their actual playing weight might stand out when compared with others but it’s how they use it, their aggression at the contest. Very few if any midfielders can go forward with the same effect as Dusty. He also does it in the last quarter when his team needs it. He also seems to have an unflappable temperament, despite all the talk about his contract”

Dal Santo’s verdict? “Probably Danger, although with no reason other than he has done it for slightly longer.

“But I would argue that even the great midfielders of the past 20 years didn’t influence games as much as these two are.”

AWARDS

How Dangerfield and Martin are tracking in various voting awards.

HERALD SUN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1 Dustin Martin (Rich) 26

2 Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) 20

3 Zach Merrett (Ess) 18

Eq 4 Rory Sloane (Adel) 15

Eq 4 Josh Kelly (GWS) 15

Eq6 Gary Ablett (GC) 14

Eq6 Tom Mitchell (Haw) 14

Eq8 Josh Kennedy (Syd) 13

Eq8 Marcus Bontempelli (WB) 13

Eq8 Joel Selwood (Geel) 13

Geelong coach Chris Scott has declared @dangerfield35 a certain started in Saturday's clash against the Lions. @MScanlan7 #7News pic.twitter.com/gvljqNFwX7

— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) July 6, 2017

AFL COACHES’ AWARD

1 Dustin Martin (Rich) 73

2 Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) 72

3 Elliot Yeo (WC) 57

4 Joel Selwood (Geel) 56

Eq5 Gary Ablett (GC) 53

Eq5 Rory Sloane (Adel) 53

Eq7 Zach Merrett (Ess) 48

Eq7 Scott Pendlebury (C’wood) 48

Eq7 Sebastian Ross (St K) 48

Eq7 Dayne Zorko (Bris) 48

CHAMPION DATA

1 Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) 22

2 Dustin Martin (Rich) 21

3 Clayton Oliver (Melb) 14

4 Gary Ablett (GC) 13

Eq5 Rory Sloane (Adel) 12

Eq5 Zach Merrett (Ess) 12

7 Marcus Bontempelli (WB) 12

Eq8 Andrew Gaff (WC) 11

Eq8 Tom Mitchell (Haw) 11

Eq8 Trent Cotchin (Rich) 11

#Theartoffootball is on now @nab Docklands visit https://t.co/xClMuppAZb https://t.co/3z0W1gEhLp 4 details @maddiesvision #fightlikemaddie pic.twitter.com/3JY7bBDSEy

— Patrick Dangerfield (@dangerfield35) June 29, 2017

DANGER v DUSTY

AVERAGES + RANKING AMONG MIDFIELDERS

■ Ranking points

Dangerfield: 133 (first)

Martin: 117 (second)

■ Disposals

Dangerfield: 31.1 (sixth)

Martin: 29.9 (ninth)

■ Contested possessions

Dangerfield: 18.6 (first)

Martin: 14.1 (eighth)

■ Clearances

Dangerfield: 8.1 (second)

Martin: 6.3 (12th)

■ Metres gained

Dangerfield: 472 (sixth)

Martin: 557 (second)

■ Inside 50s

Dangerfield: 5.6 (third)

Martin: 6 (second)

■ Goals

Dangerfield: 1.7 (first)

Martin: 1.4 (second)

■ Score involvements

Dangerfield: 6.9 (19th)

Martin: 8.2 (third)

Source: CHAMPION DATA

pic.twitter.com/aTIxU1HLL6

— Dustin Martin (@DustinMartin4) July 6, 2017

TAB BROWNLOW ODDS

$2.25 Patrick Dangerfield (Geel)

$3 Dustin Martin (Rich)

$15 Rory Sloane (Adel), Josh Kelly (GWS), Tom Mitchell (Haw)

$17 Zach Merrett (Ess), Marcus Bontempelli (WB)

$21 Gary Ablett (GC), Josh Kennedy (Syd)

$26 Scott Pendlebury (C’wood), Joel Selwood (Geel), Clayton Oliver (Melb), Robbie Gray (Port)

* Odds before Round 16.

Absolute class from Dustin Martin. #AFLNorthTigers pic.twitter.com/YfqyxkN8Uh

— AFL (@AFL) June 3, 2017

TALE OF THE TAPE

■ Dangerfield

Age: 27

Height: 189cm

Weight: 92kg

Games: 192

Goals: 211

■ Martin

Age: 26

Height: 187cm

Weight: 88kg

Games: 167

Goals: 169