Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says it will take a collective team effort to contain Richmond ace Dustin Martin in Friday night’s AFL preliminary final.
The Brownlow medallist looms as the game-breaker in the Adelaide Oval encounter to decide which club secures a grand final spot.
But Hinkley says he won’t deploy a hard tag on Martin, instead asking all his players to be mindful of not only the Tigers great, but his teammates.
“Collectively the job on any of their players will be done by the team, that is what will happen,” Hinkley said.
“Dusty is a great player.
“But it’s a prelim final. There are great players out there everywhere and that is why it’s exciting.
“It’s Richmond’s great players and Port Adelaide’s great players – there’s some concern for both teams.
“That is why you go into a prelim final and you’re on edge.”
Martin has played starring roles in Richmond’s preliminary finals in their premiership years of 2017 and 2019.
In a 2017 win against Greater Western Sydney he collected 20 disposals and booted three goals; in a 2019 triumph over Geelong he gathered 22 possessions and kicked two majors.
But in 2018, when the Tigers lost a preliminary final, Martin was relatively subdued by his lofty standards – 19 touches and scoreless.
The star Tiger will again by given licence to roam against Port through the midfield and in attack.
“He can make his impact in both areas of the ground,” Richmond assistant coach Adam Kingsley said.
“And pretty much where he’s having his impact, we tend to leave him.
“He’s very, very good around stoppages, very good through the midfield. But he’s also a goalscorer and a difficult match-up (in attack).
“We will just see how the game pans out to see where he’s playing.”
Dustin Martin’s preliminary finals
2017 (Richmond beat Greater Western Sydney by 36 points): 20 disposals, three goals three behinds, four clearances, two goal assists, one inside 50.
2018 (Richmond lose to Collingwood by 39 points): 19 disposals, no score, 0 clearances, one goal assist, four inside 50s.
2019 (Richmond beat Geelong by 19 points): 22 disposals, two goals two behinds, two clearances, 0 goal assists, four inside 50s.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
See above. Hopefully a Cats GF with those medals in Dangers boot. :silly:
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Yes good win. Dusty might get two more medals at that.
DustyisDAtruth
Roar Rookie
GF GF GF go tigers......dusty will be sleeping with he third norm smith
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Weren't the Tigers good? Did what your Cats couldn't. In a prelim too. Good luck tonight. I think the Lions will beat you up in the middle so badly Danger'll be sent in there as your saviour.
RT
Roar Rookie
How indeed? :stoked:
Jimmy Woods
Roar Rookie
Should’ve tagged Dusty
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
We play contested footy, I see it as a slight advantage, brings the ball to ground in the forward line to the little blokes.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Wow Brendon. What are Port like in the wet? I still have memories of Richmond winning 5 or 6 in a row in the wet on recent season. This weather could be a game changer though Port big bodies will be handy if its a slog?
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
It's miserable and wet, and it looks like it's set in I would have liked a dry game just for the spectacle, but it is what it is
Mark
Roar Rookie
The BOM says rain and high winds? If that's correct, I'm not unhappy.
Mark
Roar Rookie
Whats the weather doing B1 and what will it be like tonight?
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Gonna be a hard night for big forwards if this weather is anything to go by.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Ha ha Danger sleeps with a cardboard cutout of himself over his bed I reckon, just so he can wake up to the most beautiful and best man in the world.
Boo
Guest
Hope this one goes down to the wire and if it does favor Dusty to get the Tigers home .If Port have a reasonable lead at quarter time and force Richmond to play catch up footy the crowd will get the Power home.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Well, it will either be a masterstroke or the convenient hook for every journo seeking to bucket the power if they lose
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Might. Knowing Danger, he probably would be too. Just keep focused on your boys. Dusty not too many throws and sprayed kicks. Cotchin not too many high tackles and fifties. Lynch, same same. Riewoldt not to many frees for unrealistic marking attempts. Come to think of you haven’t got a decent ruckman and a team that gives away too many free, how could you win?
DustyisDAtruth
Roar Rookie
Hahahaha
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Must admit I don’t know. Same as all the stuff he says at the post games, I never watch as all coaches just talk rubbish. But I assume mid week must have been a press release.
DustyisDAtruth
Roar Rookie
Yattz will crying in front of that big dangerfield poster tomorrow night
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Yep I am with B1. Hopefully my second team plays my first in a week.