The moment: Dusty's incredible goal sets up TigersCallum Twomey
afl.com.au
Sep 7, 2018 IS THERE anything he can't do?
The football world has marveled at Dustin Martin's emergence into one of the all-time great players in the past two seasons. He dominates games in a manner only the best do: every touch of the ball makes something happen.
And on Friday night, in Richmond's qualifying final thrashing of Hawthorn, it was Martin who provided the 'wow' moment.
In a first half full of tackles and contests but devoid of highlights, Martin stepped up. The champions always deliver.
At the 19-minute mark of the second term with the ball stationed in Richmond's forward 50, it bobbled up after a contest and All Australian midfielder Shane Edwards tapped it away.
The Tigers are masters of the taps, dinky kicks and flick-ons, and this one made its way to Kane Lambert. He handballed it to Martin, who was pinned up against the boundary line with Hawk Daniel Howe on his tail. It didn't matter.
Martin's drop punt defied the angles to sail through for a goal and put the Tigers nine points ahead. They were never challenged thereafter as they ran away with the 31-point win to put themselves into a preliminary final in two weeks.
"When Dusty's there you normally give it to him no matter what the situation is. We looked at his highlights a few days before the game and we probably don't really appreciate what the bloke's doing on a football field," Lambert said.
"I know we have front row seats but you're so caught up in the moment that you probably don't get to see how special he is.
"I gave it to him and was right behind it thinking 'No way, no way'. I think he's spewing the Goal of the Year is only from the home and away season because he probably would have pinched it."
Martin's goal evoked memories of Jason Akermanis' brilliant snap for the Lions in 2005, which brought on the Brisbane star's famous I'm-shocked-at-what-I-just-did reaction.
Martin's celebration was typically more understated – could there be two personalities more different than 'Aker' and 'Dusty'? – as he charged back to the centre square to start another forward foray.
It would have suited Martin that this week his 200-game milestone was overshadowed by the start of the finals series.
It meant the attention and focus was shared on the sold-out MCG clash rather than centred on him. But coach Damien Hardwick predicted that his superstar was primed for the finals and Martin did not let him down.
His astonishing goal aside, Martin was the best player on the ground. He had 29 disposals, 10 clearances, five inside-50s. He also did other things that the numbers don't bring to life.
Not long after his goal, he was again pinned up against the boundary among a crowd of players. This time it was on the wing, and he cleverly shot a handball at the ground so it would bounce up to teammate Dion Prestia, who sent it long inside 50 for Kamdyn McIntosh to rove a goal.
Then, in the third quarter, Martin had a mark on the wing and decided he was going to kick a torpedo into the Richmond forward line. He made a nice connection and it sailed over the top, leading to a smart kick from Jack Higgins who set up a chance for Daniel Rioli.
Rioli was tackled to the ground before he could get his boot to the ball, but it all started from Martin's decision to get the ball in long and deep via the traditional torpedo means.
Martin was more subdued in the final quarter with the game already won by the final change, but the beauty of the reigning premiers is it is not reliant on him to fire. He is the lead actor of a brilliant support cast.
Dusty's night out K H D M Clr T G.B
Q1 6 1 7 0 3 2 0.0
Q2 6 5 11 1 4 2 1.0
Q3 4 3 7 3 2 0 0.2
Q4 2 2 4 0 1 0 0.0
Total 18 11 29 4 10 4 1.2
Rioli was sensational with three goals, Prestia and Trent Cotchin held things together in the midfield, and Jayden Short and Higgins – two players who didn't feature in last year's triumph – showed their intent to be their this time around.
But Martin attracts the most attention, and rightfully so. His season hasn't quite reached the phenomenal heights of his 2017 campaign, but he still made the All Australian team, he's still a chance to win the Brownlow Medal and we know what he can produce on Grand Final day should the Tigers get back there.
"We know in moments like these he's going to step up and do something special. We don't expect him to, it's just what he does," Lambert said.
The club's highlights video of Martin's career celebrating his milestone went for 35 minutes this week at Richmond. Martin looks intent on adding a few more by the end of September.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-06/the-moment-dustys-incredible-goal-sets-up-tigers
