Bone’s beef: Richmond star Dustin Martin is every bit a star as Patrick Dangerfield
CRITICS need to look past the tatts and celebrate Dustin Martin as one of the greats of the game, writes Chris McDermott.
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HOW about we get off Richmond star Dustin Martin’s case.
He may not be the innocent kid next door with the schoolboy looks but it doesn’t make him a villain either.
Dustin is what Dustin is. A “bloody good” footballer.
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Elite.
In the best handful of players in the AFL.
He stands comfortably in the company of Dangerfield, Fyfe and Franklin. The best of the best.
This status once owned solely by Gary Ablett but his best days may be behind him. If he gets out of the Gold Coast he may rediscover it again, a la Roger Federer.
Dustin Martin is unique in many ways.
On field his ferocious attack on ball and body is second to none..
His now famous “fend off “ is being replicated across the country, none more so than by the Powers own raging bull Sam Powell-Pepper.
In attack or in the midfield, at his best he is unstoppable. A match winner.
In the same mould as Dangerfield but in a weaker team where he is asked to do so much more.
In 2017 his stats speak for themselves.
In Round 17 he gathered an impressive 40 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 14 clearances (eight of them centre clearances), 12 inside 50s and kicked two goals.
All that while being tagged for a fair portion of the game, illegally for some of it.
Martin’s year to date numbers mirror Dangerfield’s.
He averages 29.8 disposals/game to Dangerfield’s 30.9. Just one touch a game different.
He has 226 contested possessions. Dangerfield 291. They rank No. 5 and No. 1 in the AFL.
Both have had 55 centre clearances and rank equal 2nd.
Martin has 107 clearances in total. Dangerfield 124. They rank No. 7 and No. 1.
Martin has 100 inside 50s. Dangerfield 92. They rank No 1 and No. 2.
Martin has kicked 22 goals. Dangerfield 32.
They are the only two players guaranteed All-Australian selection at this stage of the season.
They will finish first and second in the Brownlow voting, but in what order is still unclear.
That’s where the comparisons end.
Dangerfield is revered, Martin is respected.
Dangerfield embraces the media and the attention it brings. Martin prefers his privacy.
Dangerfield is extroverted. Martin introverted.
On the weekend, Martin was placed in a very awkward position with the eyes of the football media upon him.
He was the difference between winning and losing in the Richmond vs Brisbane clash.
Brisbane players did everything they could to nullify his influence. Legal and illegal. Fair and unfair.
They employed hard nut Nick Robertson to do the job. He failed.
Martin was reported for retaliating.
This is where the game has it wrong.
Martin DID NOT do what most players would have done in similar circumstances.
Most would have clocked Robertson in the heat of battle. Martin did nothing more than tell the Lions antagonist he was picking a battle he could not win.
Somehow the Match Review Panel found Martin guilty of controlling his anger and his aggression but manhandling Robertson.
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I say, well done Dusty.
As Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said, “When you probably get belted in the back 35 times during the game I reckon that would be fair enough”.
I agree Damien. It was fair enough.
Lets hope it doesn’t impact on his Brownlow chances.
Dustin Martin is his own man. He marches to his own drummer but when he pulls on his black and gold jumper he marches to Damien Hardwick’s beat.
He conforms to team standards and inspires them.
He is leading them to September in an era where players come out of the football factory and individuals are rare.
Thank goodness for Dustin Martin.
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