Dusty getting rusty — but vows to fix it
RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick admits superstar Dustin Martin needs to lift his defensive workrate after a fortnight well below his AFL best.
A week after being locked down by relentless North Melbourne tagger Ben Jacobs, the reigning Brownlow Medallist was somewhat ineffective during last week’s 47-point loss to ladder-leader West Coast.
Most midfielders would consider it a good day at the of- fice to walk away with 26 disposals, 17 contested possessions and eight clearances.
But the supremely talented Martin is no ordinary player, and the 26-year-old — who failed to register a tackle and was twice caught holding the ball by Elliot Yeo in the third quarter alone — was quick to concede he had work to do.
“I think defensively last week, he had eight pressure points which is below his level of expectation,” Hardwick said yesterday.
“He’s the first one to put up his hand. He said he didn’t think that he did well enough. He’ll tackle a lot better this week.”
Hardwick added that Martin had been a victim of high expectations. “Dustin’s been OK,” he said. “He had a year that will be very hard for anyone to surpass and he’s still a really important player for what he does.”
Few would bet against Martin and the second-placed Tigers bouncing back at the MCG against a Saints side whose only win this season has come against fellow cellardwellers Brisbane.
Beleaguered coach Alan Richardson will welcome back key talls Jake Carlisle and Paddy McCartin from injury as the Saints look to address their woeful inaccuracy in front of goal.
Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt has been cleared to play after a heavy collision with West Coast enforcer Liam Duggan left him coughing up blood.