Making most out of Martin
RICHMOND’S last premiership full-forward wants Dustin Martin to start Saturday’s grand final in the midfield.
The newest Brownlow Medallist has powered the Tigers into their first grand final since 1982 with a devastating shift to attack.
But Richmond great Michael “Disco” Roach said keeping Martin, 26, away from the action could allow Adelaide’s stars to rip the premiership cup out of the Tigers’ reach.
“He really is a matchwinner – but is he a matchwinner in the forward line or the centre?” Roach said.
“I just wouldn’t want Adelaide to get a good start, because we’ll struggle to come back if they get their running game going. This week he’s got to be in the midfield. Their midfield is pretty good, and you’ve got to get it down there.
“I don’t want it going the other way. Adelaide’s forwards are very, very good and I’d rather play the game from our forward line.”
In the happiest dilemma of coach Damien Hardwick’s career, he must decide whether to persist with the finals formula or bring him back to the centre square.
Martin spent 61 per cent of Saturday’s preliminary final forward, kicking three consecutive goals either side of the final change to eliminate Greater Western Sydney.
He had not previously spent more than 41 per cent forward this season. Martin finished with game highs for forwardhalf score involvements (12), forward-half ground balls (10), forward-half disposals (19) and forward-half contested possessions (12).
“(Dusty) was enormous,” Hardwick said.
“I thought (tagger Stephen) Coniglio was on top of him in the first half, and then he went forward and that’s the great thing about great players.
“I’ve got a chess piece there that I can move at various stages, and that’s the hard thing about Dustin (for the opposition) – it’s trying to find the right match-up.”
The Crows have won just two of six matches when losing the clearance count this season, highlighting the need for Martin to dominate the midfield. They are also deadly efficient in attack, ranking No.1 for goals per inside 50.
But after spending only 27 per cent of the home-andaway season in attack, that has soared to 49 per cent in finals.
Roach thought the higher stakes had altered Richmond’s approach. “I suppose in finals he (Hardwick) wants to put the score on the board,” he said.