Tom Minear: In defence of Dustin Martin’s right to silence

US sports do a far better job than Australian leagues in making players give interviews. But when Dustin Martin refused to talk before his 300th game, Tom Minear didn’t care. This is why.

The column you’re about to read is one big contradiction – but please bear with me.

It’s long been true that US sporting leagues do a far better job facilitating media access to athletes than their Australian equivalents. This is fantastic for American fans, bringing them closer to their favourite teams and players.

To its credit, the AFL has sought to follow suit, implementing rules requiring players to be made available for interviews regularly, with the threat of fines for those who do not comply.

The limits of this policy, however, were laid bare in the days before Richmond legend Dustin Martin’s 300th game. As has been the case throughout his career, he was not interested in speaking publicly. Had the AFL hit him with a $10,000 fine, it would have achieved nothing.

Dustin Martin with fellow Richmond 300-game legends Kevin Bartlett, Shane Edwards, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Francis Bourke. Picture: Michael Willson

Martin was criticised for refusing to give a pre-game interview, not even to a club representative or his former teammates in their on-air roles. But here’s the thing: I couldn’t care less. And I suspect most fellow Richmond supporters feel the same.

Everything you need to know about Martin can be understood by watching him play. It’s not just the foot skills, the burst of speed and the “don’t-argue” – it’s the determination, the fearlessness and the poise.

While his reputation as one of the greatest big-game players was forged in finals, I found myself last week watching a replay of the end of Richmond’s last game of the 2014 season on the road against Sydney.

Dustin Martin during Richmond’s win over Sydney in 2014. Picture: Tracey Nearmy (AAP)

The Swans were on top of the ladder, and while the Tigers had won eight in a row, they still needed one more victory to make the finals in consecutive years for the first time since 1975.

With the game hanging in the balance and the clock running out, the ball tumbled to Martin at half-forward in a one-on-one contest with Ted Richards. In a split second, the dour defender lost his feet, leaving Martin to pounce and surge away for the match-sealing goal.

Years later, Richmond boss Brendon Gale memorably summed up Martin like this: “You look at Dustin’s eyes in those moments and they reveal nothing. He’s like a shark. Like a great white, just cruising through the water. And then he strikes.”

Perhaps Martin will one day be willing to explain what was running through his head in those moments. But I don’t think there is anything he could say that would top what he did.

Originally published as Tom Minear: In defence of Dustin Martin’s right to silence