Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin urges teammates to keep roaring Jon Pierik
The Age
May 30, 2015 Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin has urged his teammates to keep building momentum, heading into the mid-season break.
The Tigers have rebooted their season in the past fortnight with a tough win over Collingwood and a stunning effort against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, the latter going some way to erasing the horrible memory of last year's thumping elimination-final loss.
Their next task is Saturday night's Dreamtime at the G clash against Essendon, which will also be Dustin Fletcher's 400th match, with a trip to Perth to face an unbeaten Fremantle capping the opening half of the season.
Martin, who has enjoyed a strong campaign, says the Tigers must maintain their intensity.
"We need to keep playing to our strengths and gain some momentum before the bye. It's a big game this week, Dreamtime at the G always brings a huge crowd, and we know they will come out firing for Fletcher's 400th," he said.
The recent wins have eased the pressure on coach Damien Hardwick, who it's felt must win at least one final this season to retain his job despite having a year remaining on his contract.
"We all love Dimma and back our coach in 100 per cent," Martin said.
Martin had 29 disposals against the Power and 26 against the Magpies, highlighting his importance to the side either through the midfield or up forward.
He said "weight of numbers through everyone playing their role" had been crucial to the Tigers taking control in the middle of the ground. This includes the strong form of Shaun Grigg and Brandon Ellis.
"We just played as a team and took the game on," said Martin, promoting a Foot Locker and Puma sneaker promotion.
One player crucial to the Tigers' hopes is vice-captain Brett Deledio. When he has played the Tigers have won half of their games (52 per cent) while without him they have only won a quarter of their matches (25 per cent).
Deledio was relatively quiet in his return from injury in the loss to North Melbourne in Hobart but has responded with stirring performances against the Magpies (30 disposals, two goals) and Port (28 disposals, one goal).
Martin acknowledged Deledio's importance to any hope the eighth-placed Tigers have of returning to the finals.
"Of course, we are a better side when Brett is fit and firing, he can play all over the ground and gives the opposition headaches each week," he said.
The Tigers have made one change ahead of the Bombers clash, with forward-ruckman Ty Vickery (ankle) being replaced by Liam McBean.
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