Richmond superstar Dustin Martin retires from AFL football: the numbers behind the legend

Dustin Martin's retirement took the AFL world by surprise. 

But, in hindsight, it probably shouldn't have. 

Martin's always been one to do things his way, everyone else be damned. 

There'll be no farewell game, no press conference where journalists and pundits alike can lavish the unashamedly shy athlete with praise. 

A short statement from the club, and he's off. 

A disappointing loss to North Melbourne — which consigned the Tigers to this year's wooden spoon — in front of 35,861 fans at Docklands his quiet farewell.

For all we know, Martin could be halfway to New Zealand, Las Vegas or the Moon by now. 

What he's left behind, though, is a legacy few could ever match.

A legacy, and maybe his car. That is if his antics after the 2019 Grand Final are anything to go by. 

But more on that later.

Dusty: by the numbers

Richmond's recruiters are adamant that Martin was always number 1 in their eyes. 

The team at Tigerland couldn't believe their luck when the 18-year-old from Castlemaine in regional Victoria slid to pick three in the 2009 national draft. 

That number three appears throughout his career, despite the fact he donned number for four most of his career. 

Three flags. Three Norm Smith Medals. More than 300 games, and 338 goals. 

At 33, he retires and leaves the game for good. 

His final year encompassed 13 matches, averaging a little over 17 disposals a game, the lowest of his storied career as he visibly battled back troubles towards the end of the season.  

Where it began

Martin entered the AFL a ready-made product. Tanned, muscular and without a single tattoo.

He'd honed his craft with the Magpies — the Castlemaine Magpies that is — having commenced his career with the Campbells Creek under 10s side. 

By the time he reached the big time, he was more the ready.   

His debut game came straight after being drafted, a 56 point loss to Carlton in March 2010.

He sprinted on to the MCG wearing number 36, gathering 18 disposals — the sixth most of any player that night.

That season was the only time he'd wear that number. After one year at the club, he was gifted the famous number four jersey, worn in all of the club's previous 10 premierships. 

Few could have imagined, after that debut round, that he'd add a further 301 games to his tally, becoming the 104th player and seventh Tiger to reach 300 VFL/AFL games.

The moment

There's a moment in the third quarter — there's that number three again — of the 2017 qualifying final between Richmond and Geelong that most ardent Tiger fans hold dear. 

Richmond was 37 years into a gut-wrenching premiership drought: a powerhouse club living on the fading memories of its proclaimed greatness. 

The club had been teased with success — make the finals in 2016 only to be bumped out in heartbreaking fashion by arch-rivals Carlton.

Twelve months later things were on the up. Richmond had snuck into a qualifying final and everything was on the line. 

Enter Dustin Martin.

Just days after signing a mega seven-year deal in which he turned his back on at least $2 million to play at North Melbourne, Martin played a part in three goals that would launch a Tiger dynasty. 

Midway through the premiership quarter, the Tigers were up by one point over the Cats. 

Three Martin-inspired goals to Shane Edwards, Nick Vlaustin and Dion Prestia later and Richmond had the momentum that would lead them to three premierships in four years. 

The talk at the MCG that night was that his mega seven-year deal was worth it, all for that one quarter. 

The infamy

Martin's time at Tigerland hasn't been all roses and fairy dust. 

Before he'd even played a match in yellow and black, he'd received a warning from club bosses about his behaviour. 

Konrad Marshall's 2016 book, Yellow & Back: A Season with Richmond, revealed an incident where Martin was sent off the training track after a "big night" on the town. 

Two years later Martin was suspended by the club for missing a training session after allegedly dabbling with sleeping pills. 

In December 2015, he was accused of threatening a woman at a restaurant in Melbourne's inner-south-east. He eventually apologised and avoided being charged over the incident. 

Around four years later in a rare media interview, he revealed he'd been struggling with anxiety and depression. 

Outside of his ambassadorial roles with commercial brands, Martin's stayed away from the limelight. 

He made one interview in the wake of his 300th AFL match earlier this year, a short post-game chat with his former teammate Jack Riewoldt. 

"I’ve been so blessed over my whole career, it’s been an unbelievable journey," he told Riewoldt.

It wasn't a retirement speech. At least, not that we knew of. 

What's next? 

No one knows where Martin will pop up next, but it's highly doubtful it'll be in media circles. 

In a short press conference after his retirement announcement was made, outgoing Richmond CEO Brendan Gale told a slightly disappointed press pack that Martin had a lot to offer football. 

Whether that comes to pass is another thing. 

But back to the numbers. 

Richmond's famous number four leaves behind an unmatched legacy. 

Three-time premiership player (2017, 2019, 2020) and three-time Norm Smith Medallist (2017, 2019, 2020). 

A three-time Gary Ayres Award winner as best player in finals (2017, 2019, 2020), four-time All-Australian (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020), two-time Richmond best and fairest winner (2016, 2017).

His 36 votes in the 2017 was the equal-highest tallied by an AFL footballer. 

Oh, and the thing with his car? 

Supposedly after the 2019 Grand Final he left his car at the MCG carpark for more than two months while he jetted around the world letting his hair down. 

As he did on the field, getting away with things only Dustin Martin can.