Richmond are assured they’ll rebuild and reload for a brand new period after Dustin Martin’s retirement successfully turned the web page on the Tigers’ extraordinary dynasty.
The famous person midfielder, who introduced on Tuesday he was hanging up the boots efficient instantly, was the face of the membership’s dominance between 2017 and 2020, which delivered three premierships.
The Tigers nice has been the topic of intense media hypothesis surrounding his future all through the season, and informed teammates on Tuesday of his resolution to name it quits efficient instantly.
The 33-year outdated bows out as an undisputed legend of the membership and the AFL as an entire, having gained an unprecedented three Norm Smith Medals because the centre determine of Richmond’s three premierships in 4 seasons from 2017-2020.
“It’s arduous to place into phrases what the Richmond Soccer Membership means to me, I like this place a lot,” Martin stated.
“I will likely be without end grateful for the love and the help I’ve obtained from the folks right here.
“To my teammates, the brotherhood that all of us share is what I worth most, in addition to the bond with the workers and coaches… thanks to all of you.
“To my household and mates, thanks in your unconditional love and help.
“To the Tiger Military, I’ve all the time felt liked and supported all through my profession, and for that, I will likely be without end grateful. The reminiscences that now we have created collectively will stay with me without end.
Thanks.”
Dustin Martin of the Tigers celebrates kicking a purpose. (Picture by Quinn Rooney/Getty Photographs)
Shortly changing into one of many AFL’s most fun younger skills after being chosen with the Tigers’ prized choose 3 within the 2009 draft, Martin completed fourth within the membership’s greatest and fairest in his debut season of 2010, and would have been among the many favourites for the AFL Rising Star award had he not been ineligible attributable to suspension.
Nevertheless, his burgeoning profession hit turbulence in 2012 and 2013: Martin was handed a club-imposed two-match ban after a boozy night time with teammate Daniel Connors, who was sacked over the incident, and a 12 months later got here so near a transfer to GWS that he even toured the Giants’ amenities earlier than the fledgling membership obtained chilly ft.
Martin’s resolution to stay on the Tigers would show a fateful one: after breaking by for his maiden All-Australian berth and Richmond greatest and fairest in an in any other case nightmarish 2016 season, his 2017 was one for the ages.
Described by no much less a decide than Leigh Matthews as the best particular person season ever performed, Martin was the important thing determine within the Tigers’ rise from laughing inventory to shock premiers.
He averaged practically 30 disposals a recreation, booted a career-best 37 targets, and gained just about each award on supply: the Brownlow Medal, each the AFL Gamers and Coaches Affiliation’s MVP award – the previous named after Matthews himself – the Gary Ayres Award for participant of the finals collection, a second straight Tigers greatest and fairest, one other All-Australian choice… and sweetest of all, the Norm Smith Medal for his 29-disposal, two-goal efficiency in a 48-point grand closing conquer Adelaide for the membership’s first premiership in 37 years.
From there, the Martin legend solely grew: two extra Norm Smith Medals adopted in 2019 and 2020, with Martin booting 4 targets in every grand closing because the Tigers claimed their second and third premierships to cement themselves as one of many biggest groups in VFL/AFL historical past.
His efficiency of their third flag, the 2020 conquer Geelong, is acclaimed as one of many biggest grand closing performances of all: down by 22 factors halfway by the second quarter, Martin dragged the Tigers residence with 4 targets and 21 disposals, together with a shocking main late within the match to finish his masterpiece.
Because the Tigers’ superb period ended, although, the great instances grew extra fleeting: Martin missed the ultimate rounds of 2021 with a extreme kidney harm after a heavy collision with Brisbane’s Mitch Robinson, watching on as Richmond missed finals for the primary time since 2016.
He’d handle simply 9 video games in 2022, and whereas a resurgence in 2023 had him named as soon as once more within the All-Australian prolonged squad, the departure of Damien Hardwick and long-time teammates and mates Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt left him as one of many few remaining hyperlinks to the Tiger dynasty.
Amid hypothesis over his future, which ranged from instant retirement to reuniting with Hardwick at Gold Coast, Martin caught round lengthy sufficient to play his three hundredth match towards Hawthorn, however the days of domination have been over.
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The ever-reclusive veteran, as is his wont, will forego a conventional retirement press convention, however Tigers CEO Brendon Gale, talking on his behalf, praised Martin as a Tigers legend.
When requested if Martin’s retirement made it really feel like the top of that chapter at Richmond, Gale stated: “To some extent, yeah.
“He (Martin) captures a lot consideration of our soccer membership that he’s a metaphor, he’s an emblem for the change we’re endeavor proper now.
“We’re altering and rising earlier than our very eyes … it’s only a continuation of that narrative.
“But it surely’s actually thrilling on the identical time, it’s thrilling – to see the expansion and the renewal and the children taking part in and it’s their time now.”
“I believe Dustin could be most pleased with what he was capable of obtain taking part in for a group… for our group – and the magnificent position he was capable of play inside that system, which let him be each bit the footballing genius that he was all the time destined to be.
“That genius was most evident when the stakes have been at their highest, when the gang was at its loudest, when all eyes have been on him, and when the moments wanted a hero.
“Dustin did it his means, and we’re all simply so fortunate to have been Richmond folks throughout his period of dominance. So, all I can say on behalf of everybody related to our nice Membership is thanks to an icon. To our icon.”
Martin retires with 302 video games to his identify, equal-sixth on the Tigers, and 338 targets.
As soon as eligible, he’s a walk-up inductee into the AFL Corridor of Fame, and it could be a shock have been he to not ultimately change into immortalised as a Legend of the sport.
There stays loads of uncertainty at Punt Highway on the personnel entrance, particularly given their powerful fortunes, amid a horror harm run, underneath first-year coach Adem Yze.
Contracted dynamo Shai Bolton reportedly desires to return to Western Australia for household causes.
Vice-captain Liam Baker is tossing up whether or not to go west too, whereas Daniel Rioli is in Gold Coast’s sights and Jack Graham has curiosity from West Coast.
Richmond may significantly bolster their draft hand if any of their in-demand gamers depart.
‘Generational participant’: Hawkins joins Martin in retirement
On a day for big-name retirements, Geelong famous person Tom Hawkins additionally introduced he’d be hanging up the boots on the finish of the 2024 season, after 359 video games.
Hawkins has been an imposing determine within the Cats ahead line since making his debut in 2007, and alongside the way in which has gained three premierships on the membership; 2009, 2011 and 2022.
The 36-year-old, who was chosen within the 2006 Nationwide Draft underneath the father-son rule, has remained a one-club participant eclipsing 796 targets for the Hoops, even claiming the 2020 Coleman Medal.
Including to his glittering profession, Hawkins is a five-time All Australian – and was named captain in 2022.
In 2024, he has kicked 15 targets from 12 video games, though a foot harm has saved him off the sphere since spherical 15.
Geelong Cats Basic Supervisor of Soccer Andrew Mackie, and former teammate of Hawkins’ says he has made a contribution to the sport each on and off the sphere.
“Tom has been an unbelievable presence each on and off the sphere at Geelong for the previous 18 years, along with his potential to play persistently at an elite stage, together with humility and look after his teammates, logos of his profession,” Mackie stated.
“He’s a generational participant who will rightly be celebrated for his achievements on discipline, in addition to the position he has performed shaping our Membership into what it’s at this time.
“We thank Tom, his spouse Emma, and their kids Arabella, Primrose and Henry for all they’ve given our membership.”
