Dustin Martin was at his dominant best in Richmond’s huge win over Geelong

IF Friday night at the MCG was a battle to see who is the game’s best player, there is no question Dustin Martin was the winner. MARK ROBINSON examines the Tiger stars stunning performance.

Dustin Martin was outstanding for the Tigers on Friday. Picture: AAP Images

WE love standing ovations at the MCG.

We love them because the reason for them is so compelling that a mere clap of the hands fails miserably.

There were three significant standing ovations among many in a romping final quarter from Richmond on Friday night

The first came when Dustin Martin ran to the bench at the sixth minute of the final term and bay after bay on the bottom deck of the members rose as one to acclaim him.

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The second came when Martin ran to the bench at the 28th minute. The third came at the final siren.

The MCG was pandemonium by then. In a sea of black and yellow, fans danced and sang and pumped their fists and it was exactly how we had imagined it would be if the Tigers won.

Pandemonium might not cut it. The Tigers — the butt of footy jokes for 30 years — are into a preliminary final.

Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin celebrate Richmond’s win. Picture: Mark Stewart

It wasn’t a classic, not until Martin took hold of the game.

He was best afield Friday night because, in a game that was full of pressure and mistakes and played primarily between the arcs, he took control.

Martin finished with 28 disposals, seven tackles and six clearances. He was the goal assist king and his Tigers teammates filled their boots.

In the third quarter, after Geelong made its move, Martin set up goals for Shane Edwards and then Dion Prestia, the latter coming after Martin won a one-on-one contest with Tom Stewart on the Southern Stand wing and charged around the boundary.

In the final quarter, Martin set up Shaun Grigg before hightailing it to the bench.

By then the Tigers had cleared out from Geelong — they led by 20 points — and the Cats’ final quarter surrender saw the margin blow out to 51.

Martin returned in the final quarter to hand another goal to Jacob Townsend and had a role in Josh Caddy’s goal.

All in all, he finished the night with a game-high six score assists and walked off to thunderous applause.

What can be written that already hasn’t been written about Martin? He is majestic and powerful and if Friday night’s game was to decide the best player in the game, all accolades go to Dusty.

Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield was monstrous without having the same impact. Martin was the silk bomber who opened up the game and then closed down the Cats.

The Lance Franklin noise was something to behold at Hawthorn, but Martin’s relationship with Tigers fans — in fact all fans — is extraordinary.

He was terrific and he had plenty of teammates.

His skipper Trent Cotchin was on a mission Friday night. He had five tackles and five clearances in the first quarter and performed party tricks at the death, a freakish gather and goal which drew teammates from far and wide to celebrate with him.

There was so much to like about the Tigers.

Caddy was superb against his old side, Jack Graham’s laid six tackles in the first quarter, and although Townsend kicked only two goals, he kept Lachie Henderson to eight touches and three marks.

Dustin Martin broke plenty of tackles on Friday night. Picture: AAP Images

It yet a total team performance underpinned by pressure and contested ball wins. Richmond was too tough, too hungry and too resilient for the Cats.

For the Cats, it is another finals loss and they now play the winner of Sydney and Essendon. Their season is not done, although it gets very difficult.

What many feared would be a straight sets finals exit for the Tigers now looms as Geelong’s possible fate.