Mark Robinson’s letter to Dustin Martin on behalf of all footy fans

Whether or not we see Dustin Martin on a footy field again, his legacy as the best player of the 21st century is sealed — and Leigh Matthews said it best, Mark Robinson writes.

Dustin Martin's standing as the best player of the 21st century is indisputable.

Dear Dusty,

We write this letter not knowing if you will retire from the game or return to Richmond in coming weeks.

Whichever path you choose, and for what it’s worth, we totally understand.

If you walk, we’ll simply say thank you.

Thank you for those exquisite moments when you made us hold our collective breaths, as we watched the ball curl towards goal in the air, or along the ground, or when you sharked a hitout and charged towards centre-half forward, your legs pumping like pistons and your body moving gracefully in rhythm.

If we choose a game in which it felt like you accomplished all of those moments, it had to be the 2020 Grand Final at the Gabba.

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Dustin Martin slots one of his incredible goals in the 2020 grand final. Picture: Michael Klein

Martin with the 2020 premiership cup and the Norm Smith Medal draped around his neck. Picture: Getty Images

It is always said the greats make the game slow down. That night, and for many other nights, Dusty, you made the game stop.

Thank you also for the roars you generated. There’s been plenty of them.

But the 2017 preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney, in front of 90,000 Tigers fans, your two goals late in the third quarter produced the most deafening and delirious noise the MCG has surely ever heard.

Into the Grand Final went the Tigers, their first since 1982, and into the annals of the game you went. You won the first of your three Norm Smith Medals that day which capped an astonishing individual season.

There is one quote which will forever recognise your standing in the game. It was said by Leigh Matthews.

“Put it this way: Dusty’s the only player I don’t get insulted being compared to,” Matthews said.

“He has got the strength and power of a bricklayer, and the touch and the deft skills of a surgeon.”

Martin’s famous celebration in the 2019 grand final. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

That’s the player of the 20th Century talking about the player of the 21st Century.

Dusty, you always had the capabilities to be a prodigious talent, but early days, your transition from teenager to young buck to professional footballer had its challenges.

There was the missed training session after a bender that made headlines and a night at a Japanese restaurant that became infamous.

But friends and teammates laud you for the person you’ve become.

You had the rare quality of being able to capture the hearts and minds of all footy fans, from grandmothers at home who barracked for the Doggies to grandkids at the games who loved watching you despite barracking for the opposition.

So many parents who followed the likes of Essendon and Carlton or any of the rival clubs lost their kids to Richmond because of you.

The little ones loved you. Their “don’t argues” in the backyard became a modern-day phenomenon — and the buzz cuts and mohawks have inspired a generation.

Martin gives Christian Petracca the don’t argue in 2021. Picture: Michael Klein

There were fake tattoos for the kids and real tattoos for the grown-ups — although for the grown-ups they were premiership cups rather than the neck tatts.

We knew you were going to be a star from an early age.

There was Gazza and Judd before you, but you seemed to join them and pass them, oh so quickly.

It’s cool how Juddy is remembered for his five goals against Brisbane at the Gabba in his 34th game. You also kicked five at the Gabba — in your 33rd game — and have dined out on the Lions ever since.

If it is the end, your obvious legacy is your individual brilliance.

But there so much more than that — you always wanted to make people happy.

So many times you gave off to teammates so they could kick a goal. You craved success for them and went out of your way to help them have their moment.

Remember the 2019 Grand Final when you kicked the ball to first-gamer Marlion Pickett so he could kick a goal? That said everything about you.

Your coach Damien Hardwick says he doesn’t know if or when you will return to the game, but he pointedly said that you don’t owe Richmond anything.

The late Shane Martin reacts with tears in his New Zealand home after Richmond wins the 2019 AFL grand final.

If it is over, we get it.

Life has dealt you some wonderful cards, of which the Tigers and all of football were the beneficiaries, but then last Christmas you were dealt a tragic one.

Grief changes life for everyone, be it partially or wholly, and this period has put you on your bum.

Already, you have played 261 games which is more than some all-time greats such as Dane Swan, James Hird, John Platten, Jonathan Brown, Peter Matera and Stephen Kernahan.

So, again, if it’s the end, we thank you.

But if it’s not over, and that decision is yours only, then we’ll also be thankful.

Because we’re not nearly prepared to move on without you.

The goals, the roar, the No.4 …. it’s fair to say we’re missing you already.

Yours sincerely,

Footy

Originally published as Mark Robinson’s letter to Dustin Martin on behalf of all footy fans