Dustin Martin a genuine Brownlow Medal chance after late charge

DON’T argue — Dustin Martin is right in Brownlow Medal contention. The Richmond superstar will not poll as many votes as last year, but he might just get enough to pip Tom Mitchell.

Dustin Martin is far from a spent force in this year’s Brownlow Medal count. Picture: Getty Images

DON’T argue — Dustin Martin is right in Brownlow Medal contention.

There is no disputing that Dusty hasn’t had the season he had in 2017, but he is unquestionably in the mix to become just the seventh player to go back-to-back in the prestigious award after a late-season return to form.

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Martin’s impact on Richmond this season has still been profound and if you dig deeper than just his disposal count that becomes clear.

The midfield bull is averaging just over five less touches a game but has kicked only three fewer goals than he did last year with one round remaining.

Martin’s goal assists are also only three behind last year’s tally at 18, while he remains the No. 1 score involvement player in the competition averaging 8.4 a game, down only slightly on last year’s 8.7.

The score involvement numbers are intriguing, for Martin is the only player in the top-five who is not a full-time forward.

Dustin Martin’s impact on Richmond this season has still been profound despite a slight dip in numbers.

The other four are Jack Riewoldt, Tom Hawkins, Lance Franklin and Luke Breust.

So Martin wins the ball, sets up goals and kicks six-pointers himself.

In the umpires’ eyes: Tick, tick, tick.

Martin accumulated a record 36 votes last year, polling in 14 games.

While his tally this year will not come close, it might not need to be.

Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell — the raging $1.35 favourite for the award with TAB — has seemingly gained more recognition in the football world this year than last but has he been significantly better?

That’s debatable.

Mitchell polled 25 votes last year, and has arguably had a few more teammates who have stepped up and could take votes from him this season.

Think Breust, James Sicily, Isaac Smith and Jack Gunston.

That surely gives Martin a chance.

Richmond champion Dustin Martin avoids a tackle.

Dustin Martin celebrates a goal for the Tigers.

Consider this — the Richmond superstar polled 25 votes in 2016 when he kicked just nine goals and Richmond scored only eight wins.

The Tigers should finish this season with 18 home-and-away wins, and we all know that successful teams attract more votes.

Last year players from minor premier Adelaide received 88 votes, while those from 15th-placed North Melbourne received only 40 votes.

Out of my way: Dustin Martin has struck form at the right time for the Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Mitchell deserves to be Brownlow Medal favourite, his year again having been super.

But we can tend to forget early-season form in the fast-moving footy news cycle.

Martin could well have received 10 or more votes in the opening five rounds after performances that included 32 disposals and a goal against Carlton, 25 disposals and five goals against Adelaide, 17 disposals and six goals against Brisbane and 26 disposals and 10 clearances against Melbourne.

His form dropped after that — a calf complaint which saw him miss one game a possible explanation — but Martin has picked up again since the bye and produced another certain three-vote game against Essendon with 26 disposals and four goals last Friday night.

Champion Data has Martin on 25.5 votes, only three behind Mitchell.

So, the message is clear: don’t discount Dusty.

CHAMPION DATA PREDICTED BROWNLOW MEDAL VOTES

28.5 Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)

25.5 Dustin Martin (Richmond)

22 Andrew Gaff (West Coast)

20 Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

18.5Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)

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