Half-fit Dusty better in than out
RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick knows when he wants to see the Brownlowwinning best from star midfielder Dustin Martin but isn’t sure that aligns with reality.
Martin will return to face Geelong on Saturday, having been “knocked around” by an illness that kept him out of last week’s win over Carlton, continuing an interrupted 2022 for the 30-year-old whose regular output has been below his normal lofty standards.
Hardwick on Wednesday said “this week” when asked when Martin would give Richmond his blockbusting best, but he knows that might be fanciful. He did say, however, that just having the triple Norm Smith medallist around the club made the Tigers instantly better.
“He hasn’t had the pre-season that we would have liked obviously with the issues that he’s had, but the fact of the matter is guys don’t forget how to play,” he said.
“They just need to start getting into a bit of a groove and we’ve got no question that’s not too far away.
“How he comes out (after the illness), we’re not too sure, but we’re pretty confident it (Martin’s best) is not too far away.
“What we have got to realise, the level of expectation on Dustin is incredibly high.
“The way he plays the game, even at 60 per cent, is far above probably most, to be fair. He has been playing his role. We have been winning games with him playing that role. Just him being in the side is a bonus for us … and what he gives us off field is such a spark, that’s almost as important to us.”
But while Martin will return to boost the Tigers, it could be a match-day decision that determines whether key defender Robbie Tarrant will be able to play on star Cats forward Tom Hawkins.
Hardwick said Tarrant, who trained with a glove on his right hand on Wednesday, was a “tough bugger” after playing on against the Blues with a cracked bone in his hand that required a plate being inserted on the weekend.
“He did that injury in the first three to four minutes and got an injection, had a plate inserted on the Friday or Saturday,” he said.
“He is looking likely at the moment.”
If Tarrant doesn’t play, Ben Miller and Bigoa Nyuon are in contention to come in to help curb both Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron.