MATCH IT WITH GAZ
GF STAR MAKING A CASE:
DION Prestia says Dustin Martin has yet to move past Gary Ablett as one of the AFL’s best but believes another Brownlow Medal to his Tiger teammate could change things.
Prestia has played with both superstars, spending six years in Gold Coast’s midfield before doing the same during Martin’s stunning 2017 season at Richmond.
The inaugural Suns player said both could produce moments and performances like few others but Ablett’s flawless ability to do the basics of the game still had him at the top of the AFL tree.
“Dustin does some special things on the field that probably nobody else can do and Gaz is in a similar boat,” Prestia said. “But he (Ablett) has always done the basics well and can also do some unbelievable things.
“The thing I learnt from Gaz the most was doing the basics well. He does it the best of anyone that I have seen or played with.
“You can teach players to do that where as not everyone can fend off whenever they like. That’s been a huge weapon for Dusty up forward and helped us get through the final series.”
Ablett and Martin both possess enormous talent and hunger for success but Prestia can attest that they are two completely different characters and players.
Ablett, 33, stands at 182cm, has built his game around a low centre of gravity and strong lower-body strength in 16 AFL seasons, not to mention he is bald and has no tattoos.
The 187cm Martin, 26, has played eight seasons and is known for his famous fend off and upper body strength while his edgy haircut is more than matched by the ink that covers most of his body.
“They are a lot different that is for sure, personality wise they couldn’t be any more unlike,” Prestia said.