World News – AU – Dusty’s third Norm Smith medal places him among all-time greats

It was the 17th minute of the final quarter, with Geelong’s Sam Simpson lying on the grass and waiting for a stretcher, when the vocals started by the Richmond Joy team on the east side of the pitch

It was reminiscent of the crowds that pushed Dennis Lillee bowling in front of terrified Englishmen in the 1970s But this song was for a footballer

Their champion had just hit his third base, hacked from half the front to open space, making a low bow in the air, then along the ground, based on nothing but d ‘total belief and a refusal to recognize the possibility of defeat

In that grand finale, Dustin Martin – and Richmond – faced him, looked him straight in the eye, and looked him down

With this coin, Martin had just become the first player to collect three Norm Smith medals en route to the third post of Premier of the Tigers in four years, a dynasty he defined

It is no longer enough to simply place him among the modern greats Outstanding is the grand final with two future AFL legends, except some It was a

The other, of course, was Gary Ablett, the greatest player of his generation, diminished only by age and the agony of a badly damaged shoulder in the first few minutes Martin was not so dominant for as long as Ablett, not yet, but on Saturday night he surely joined him in his stature for his wrecking ball impact on the game’s biggest stage

And in the final moments, as if there was nothing more to be done to emphasize its brilliance, there was an ending Staking the ball from Mark Blicavs’ feet on the dividing line, Martin turned, shrugged a Patrick Dangerfield, sped off and hung on his fourth

What more can you say – as Dennis Cometti said? In Richmond’s box, Damien Hardwick stood up and applauded Martin’s virtuoso performance, before descending to the ground

It had actually taken a while for Martin to work in the game, as the Cats took control of the first half It wasn’t until the 22nd minute of the first quarter that he took his first kick, a lousy mid-forward chip that found Liam Baker But it was the right option: Baker was in space, where there was little to find, and he found a Kamdyn McIntosh running for Tigers second

Playing in a front pocket, Martin was now starting to worry about Jake Kolodjashnij’s life, turning for an impossible shot that hadn’t quite made the trip He finished the shift in the central plaza, parked briefly on Cameron Guthrie, who had five clearances at this point

Martin wrote himself long ago in the immortality of football But in this game he went back to something elseCredit: Getty Images

With just over a minute to go until half-time was over, Martin brought Richmond back into the game, releasing a hit, throwing the ball over his boot, then immediately rallying his attackers into a small group, looking for a moment like the captain he will never be, but the gaming giant he had become

In the middle of the third quarter, it was Martin who put the Tigers in front for the first time, dribbling a checkerboard at 40 meters Each of his four goals, then, was quite decisive for the result: lifesaver; leveler; finisher; cold killer

Martin wrote himself long ago in the immortality of football But in this game he went up to something else, a player who ranks among the greatest Australian football rules ever: Ablett – indeed both – but also Matthews

The game will eventually return to the MCG One day, the Martin statue may just be outside, pushing all comers away forever

15 – Dustin Martin, Richmond – 333336 – Jayden Short – 2224 – Shane Edwards – 11113 – Mitch Duncan – 212 – Nathan Broad – 2

Dustin Martin, Richmond Football Club, Australian Football League, Norm Smith Medal, Geelong Football Club, AFL Grand Final, Damien Hardwick