AFL great Luke Hodge tips Dustin Martin to accept time has come for huge shiftLuke Hodge believes the Richmond superstar is ready for an ‘impactful’ move inspired by his great mate Trent Cotchin.
Glenn Valencich
7news
17.03.22 3:25PM AFL great Luke Hodge has suggested the time is right for Dustin Martin to accept the slow transition away from being Richmond’s big dog in the middle.
That, though, does not equal an expectation that the 30-year-old has lost any kind of edge - far from it.
Martin faced a tough road back to full health in the off-season after suffering a lacerated kidney in a collision with Brisbane hardman Mitch Robinson last year.
An acre between the midfielders closed up within a matter of footsteps, sending Martin crashing to the turf in a way he has avoided for so much of his 260-game career.
“I think you just look at how Dusty attacks things - he knows that that’s a part of football,” he told 7NEWS.com.au.
“He goes in there hard. Normally when he hits blokes they get injured, this time it was a freak contact.
“It didn’t look like it was much but it just got him right in the sweet spot. If you run into Mitch Robinson, arms and knees are going everywhere.”
Richmond held on for victory that night at the Gabba, ending a four-game win streak to sit just outside the eight on percentage, but Martin was the latest in a flurry of injuries that doomed their finals chances.
With their first extended pre-season since 2016 now complete, Hodge believes the Tigers retain the right mix to reach September in 2022.
Shai Bolton became the answer when Dion Prestia went down earlier in the season while Riley Collier-Dawkins, Liam Baker and Jack Ross all stand to grow into expanded roles this year.
So what becomes of their all-conquering Brownlow medallist and three-time Norm Smith Medal winner?
Hodge only needed to look to Trent Cotchin, who has experienced his own transformation this season by giving up the captaincy, reshaping his game to realise what’s possible for Martin.
“(Richmond coach Damien Hardwick) knows if they need goals you can put him at full forward and clear out the forward line,” the Channel 7 AFL commentator said.
“And I think you get to the stage in your career where you don’t have to be in the middle getting all the clearances. You can rely on other people.
“I remember Cotch clearly made that decision a few years ago when he saw Dusty coming through. Cotch went from having 30 to 35 touches a game to having 20 to 25, but as a leader it was more impactful for Richmond because he was letting Dusty go in there.
“(Cotchin) was there as a safeguard and a bit more of a defensive midfielder, playing the team role like senior guys should do at times.
“I think Dusty’s at that age now where he knows that he doesn’t have to be in the middle. He can play forward, he can rest forward, he can give some responsibility to the younger midfielders.
“They’ve got pretty much a full list back. I wouldn’t be surprised - yes, you’ll see Dusty start in the middle and try to dominate, but you’re also going to see him resting forward at times because he can turn a game with two or three goals.”
Martin, who took time off during the pre-season to mourn the sudden death of his father Shane, has been backed in for round one after overcoming a minor hip issue in February.
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-great-luke-hodge-tips-dustin-martin-to-accept-time-has-come-for-huge-shift-c-6079398
