Hart still Tigers’ Rolls Royce, but Dustin Martin rising with the bullet

HE’S the fastest Richmond player to 200 games and already has a swag of silverware. But where does he rank among the club’s all-time greats — and how high could he finish? SEE WHERE DUSTY RATED

RICHMOND’S finest players of the past 50 years is a group that includes AFL football royalty, but as he prepares for his 200th game tonight Dustin Martin is heading for the top with a bullet.

To gauge just where the 27-year-old sits, five Tiger identities of infinite qualifications and experience were asked to rate their top five Yellow and Black players from the beginning of the Tom Hafey-coached glory years from 1967.

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The quintet was almost unanimous in awarding maximum votes to Royce Hart, who in 1996 was named centre half-forward in the AFL Team of Century.

But Martin at age 27 was rated third behind Hart and Kevin Bartlett, meaning he conceivably has several seasons in which to further stamp his claims as the best, and he has extreme durability (having played 199 out of 205 since his 2010 debut).

Tony Jewell, who played in a Richmond Premiership in 1967 before coaching the club to the 1980 flag, shakes his head when speaking of Martin.

“Gee he’s a good player, just as influential as ‘Stewie’ (Ian Stewart). He kicks more goals than most midfielders and just doesn’t waste possessions,” said Jewell, 74.

“He will finish up like KB (Bartlett) and Leigh Matthews in that he will go forward and become a nightmare.

Dustin Martin signs autographs at Richmond's open training open training session at Punt Rd Oval. Picture: Alex Coppel

“Royce (Hart) was the most influential, turning games at will. There is no doubt he is our best forward in the era since 1967. And Alex Rance would certainly be the best backman.

“KB has to be in and then there is Dale Weightman who has to be in there somewhere. Every time he got the ball we ended up in a better position.”

Bryan Wood agrees with Jewell that Hart deserves to still be rated number one.

“Royce was unpredictable, brilliant and capable of changing a game in 15 minutes. He must have been a nightmare to play on,” said Bryan Wood, who played in three Richmond Premierships (1973-74-80) before a fourth with Essendon in 1985.

Dustin Martin on the training track.

Tiger great Royce Hart on the burst.

“As for Dusty to have the year he had last year and back it up this season is exceptional. Plus he is so team-orientated. Ian Stewart was in the ilk of Royce. His delivery was so precise and he was very elusive, like a Maurice Rioli.

“KB was obviously brilliant even if he was frustrating to play with at times given if he was within 60m then he was going for goal (laughter).

“I played on a wing and if Francis was playing half back then you wanted to get on that side of the ground. He would do everything in his power to support his teammates.”

Dustin Martin looks for a teammate against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.

Leon Daphne, who started barracking for the Tigers in 1951 (seven years after club historian Bill Meaklim) before becoming president from 1993-99, wonders where the current Tiger greats will sit in five years.

“In 2016 Mike Sheahan was asked by the club to compile the best 50 Tiger players for the last 50 years and had Alex Rance 29, Trent Cotchin 30, Jack Riewoldt 31 and Dusty 34. What a difference two years can make including a Premiership?

“I have started to think if RFC Team of 20th Century was reselected today those four players would have a very high chance of being included.”

THE PANELLISTS

BARRY RICHARDSON

(Premiership player with Richmond in 1967-69-74)

5: Royce Hart

4: Ian Stewart: Think of Stevie J’s vision and that was ‘Stewie”. And then he finished it off with pinpoint delivery, plus he was very brave.

3: Dustin Martin

2: Kevin Bartlett

1: Alex Rance

LEON DAPHNE

(former president, Tiger fan since 1951)

5: Kevin Bartlett: I find it impossible to go past his longevity, his three B & Fs in premiership years and his record of being named in our best in 22 of 27 finals.

4: Royce Hart

3: Francis Bourke

2: Dustin Martin

1: Dale Weightman

TONY JEWELL

(Premiership player in 1967, premiership coach in 1980)

5: Royce Hart

4: Alex Rance

3: Dustin Martin: He is as influential as ‘Stewie’ (Ian Stewart), but has played 121 more games. He’s a chance to end up number one.

2: Kevin Bartlett

1: Dale Weightman

BRYAN WOOD

(Premiership player in 1973-74-80)

5: Royce Hart: He could change a game in a shorter period of time than anyone I played with or have seen since.

4: Ian Stewart

3: Dustin Martin

2: Francis Bourke

1: Kevin Bartlett

BILL MEAKLIM

(Club historian, watched over 1500 Tiger games since 1944)

5: Royce Hart

4: Kevin Bartlett

3: Francis Bourke

2: Dustin Martin

1: Dale Weightman: He only played in a short era of success with the club, but when he played for Victoria with the really good players around him, he was exceptional.