Richmond’s ultra rare move for Dustin Martin, premiership greats
Richmond has made a big call about Dustin Martin and fellow premiership heroes as the Tigers look to protect their No. 1 pick.
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Richmond will keep Dustin Martin’s guernsey number “vacant” for at least season 2025 even though the club’s top draft pick is keen to wear the iconic No. 4.
The Tigers have put the guernsey numbers of three-time premiership winners Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin on ice for next season despite AFL No. 1 pick Sam Lalor previously being linked to the No. 4.
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Lalor, taken with the top pick in last month’s AFL Draft, is a powerful midfielder who had drawn comparisons to Martin’s famous fend-offs.
But Martin’s iconic digit was left vacant when Richmond unveiled 14 new guernsey numbers for next season on Tuesday.
Lalor will wear No. 22, which was previously worn by Jacob Hopper, who will now wear No. 2 — last donned by recently retired premiership defender Dylan Grimes.
Interestingly, Richmond noted it had “opted to keep the numbers recently worn by triple premiership and 300-game icons Dustin Martin (4), Jack Riewoldt (8), Trent Cotchin (9) and Shane Edwards (10) vacant for the 2025 season”.
The Tigers’ second draft selection, Josh Smillie, has been given the No. 16 guernsey.
Taj Hotton (No. 24), Jonty Faull (No. 26), Jasper Alger (No. 29), Luke Trainor (No. 31), Harry Armstrong (No. 34) and Tom Sims (No. 38) are the club’s other draftees.
Clubs traditionally give their top draftee a number worn by a legendary former player.
According to Code Sports, the decision aims to shield Lalor and Richmond’s rookies from extra pressure as the club enters a new era.
Ben Miller goes from No. 46 to No. 12. The jumper has been kept vacant since fellow key defender David Astbury wore it in three premierships. It was previously worn by Matthew Richardson.
The Tigers emerged as the big winners of the AFL Draft, filling a number of spots across the field while also snagging another likely top five pick in a surprise swap with North Melbourne.
Richmond held a mammoth draft hand following the departures of premiership stars Daniel Rioli (Gold Coast), Shai Bolton (Fremantle) Liam Baker (West Coast) and Jack Graham (West Coast) during the trade period.
The Tigers are looking to rebuild over the next decade under coach Adem Yze, who is entering his second year in charge at Punt Road.
Martin starred in Richmond’s three premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020 — and the club’s decision to suggests the club wants a player to earn the honour of wearing the No. 4.
The 33-year-old played 302 games for Richmond and won the Norm Smith Medal in all three of his side’s grand final wins.
Martin retired from the AFL last season and has been linked to Fox Footy with discussions ongoing with the broadcaster about a commentary role.
Guernsey numbers allocation is a practice steeped in Aussie Rules tradition.
Nick Daicos wears the No. 35 — the number his father Peter wore all throughout his career with Collingwood.
The Magpies introduced a tradition where their top draftee was given No. 35 in honour of hard-nosed defender Simon Prestigiacomo, who also wore No. 35 and missed out on a premiership medal when he selflessly ruled himself out of the 2010 AFL Grand Final.
St Kilda spearhead Max King wears the No. 12 worn by Saints great Nick Riewoldt.
Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron now wears the No. 5 made famous by club legend Gary Ablett Snr. His son Gary Ablett Jnr never wore the No. 5 during his time at the Cats and the Gold Coast Suns.
Harley Reid wears the No. 9 for West Coast, which was previously worn by Ben Cousins and Nic Naitanui.
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