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The man, the myth, the legend that is Dustin Martin has once again been thrust into the spotlight after becoming the best Tiger of the 20th century.
The Tiger king has no doubt deserved to be ahead of the likes of Matthew Richardson, Wayne Campbell and Brett Deledio based on his current form comprising two Norm Smith medals, two premierships and one Brownlow in his 11 years in the competition.
Where does the current king of Punt Road sit among the greatest players of all time? On this list we’re talking about the likes of Leigh Matthews, Wayne Carey, Norm Smith and Bob Skilton. The debate has no doubt raged for the last 100 years and will certainly be around for the next 100 years. But surely Martin has to be part of the discussion.
The accolades do not give the best indicator of a player’s rank against his peers from varying decades. Leigh Matthews’s four premierships as a player through late 1970s and early 1980s mean he simply has to be mentioned as one of the greatest of all time.
The supreme class of Bob Skilton to take home three Brownlow medals in the very different time of the VFL is a distinct accolade, him being one of only four players in VFL/AFL history to claim a trio of best and fairest medals.
Martin is of course two premierships and two Brownlow medals away from catching, let alone passing, two of the greatest players in VFL/AFL history.
The mild-mannered Martin’s quiet nature generates an air of mystery around the magic man of the AFL. The debate about the greatest player of all time will never reach a sound conclusion, but for now we’re witnessing someone who’s in contention for the title, and that’s very special.
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