Coach Damien Hardwick has warned Dustin Martin won’t be Richmond’s panacea as the struggling Tigers prepare to welcome back their biggest star against St Kilda next week.
With Martin sidelined by bruised ribs, the Tigers were held to just five goals for the second straight week in a 32-point defeat to Hawthorn on Thursday night.
It left the reigning premiers winless from two games since the season restart after a dour draw with Collingwood in round two.
Slow starts have hurt Hardwick’s side, who have gone goalless in first quarters against the Hawks and Magpies and laid only nine tackles in the first half against Hawthorn.
Hardwick declared Martin a highly probable inclusion against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in round four but said his underperforming needed a lift across the board.
“You take one of the best players, if not the best player in the league, out of your side and you’d prefer to have him than not,” Hardwick said.
“But the reality is there’s 22 other players that play our way, they just didn’t play well enough tonight (against Hawthorn).
“Dustin is one player. He’s not the Richmond Football Club.
“He’s a very important player, don’t get me wrong, but our expectation is that our players that pull on the jumper play a hell of a lot better than they did tonight and I’ve got to coach them better as well.”
Martin has been incredibly durable over the course of his decorated career, with Thursday night’s match just the eighth AFL game he has missed in 10 seasons.
The 28-year-old has played 226 of the Tigers’ 233 matches since making his AFL debut in round one of the 2010 season.
He hurt his ribs in an intra-club match before round two and carried the injury into the Collingwood clash before being rested.
“We think he’s highly probable next week,” Hardwick said.
“He was touch and go this week but we made the call just to get it right.
“We don’t want it to be nagging him for another two to three weeks.”
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Adapt or die billybob
Stillbillbob
Roar Rookie
Hahaha
Stillbillbob
Roar Rookie
Realist we had these conversations this time last year......like the bloke who didn’t make all Australian last WHO kicked 6 goals in the first final, showed Dangerfield how to carry a team to a grand final in the prelim AND go in kick 4 more goals in the big dance n collect 2 medals more important then bfs n Brownlows
Stillbillbob
Roar Rookie
Your right I remember in last years grand final we won by the way ( 980k well spent) he was slow to start. Great point tho
Stillbillbob
Roar Rookie
We had these conversations last year everyone......beware of the tiger train
Dave
Roar Rookie
Lap it up while you can arrogant Petie, highly unlikely your team will win the flag!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
No Dave, I can’t do that. I was right. You were wrong Dave. Close the pod bay doors Dave.
Dave
Roar Rookie
50/50 to me mate! Pies were absolutely deplorable after 1/4 time last week (1 goal only in 3Qs), and really were lucky to walk away with the draw to be brutally honest, (not that the Tigers played much better either)! Saints looked pretty impressive last round and should come into this game with confidence! Certainly no ‘shoe in’ as you stated above, rather arrogantly too! Wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest, if the Saints grab the 4 points in this game!
sven
Roar Rookie
yeah consumption could be up a little
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Well the last two weeks must have needed a few swigs. :happy:
sven
Roar Rookie
actually as a tiges man i dont mind a sip, but not as much as i used to ... wonder if its cause im getting old & soft ... or the tiges havent been driving me to drink as much like they did in those dark not so distant days .....
sven
Roar Rookie
no stress pete, me too (& i know u got a man crush on dusty, i wont tell mason, promise). seriously dont reckon theres anyone playing top level footy thats soft, the game is as hard if not harder than ever, just not with the thug stuff they used to sometimes get away with back in the day
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
That’s different. I came in here after the loss, bade my farewell and tipped Tigers by 69 saying I wouldn’t watch the GF, still haven’t
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
We’re just mucking around Sven. I love Dusty. Lighten up man
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I’ll pay that Sven
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
And you are mister abstinence, what is wrong with you. Leave Pete In peace.
sven
Roar Rookie
if i followed the pies i'd def be a drinker ... a big one ....
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Never heard of an AFL player not playing for bruised ribs.
RT
Roar Rookie
I said I didn't pick you as a drinker. I don't know why. No way you would have beaten Richmond though.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He was in the conversation about the best player 2/3 years ago. Now he has at least 5 players ahead of him, probably 10 or 20 since he became an outside small forward. Winding down what has been a top career.