If Dustin Martin was a race-horse, you’d be marking him as a standout, black-book special, following his dazzling finish in the 2016 Brownlow Medal count held last night at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium.
The dynamic Richmond midfielder had just one vote on the board after seven rounds, but flew home, to finish in third place with 25 votes.
To underline just how impressive Martin’s voting burst was throughout the last two-thirds of the season, 2016 Brownlow winner, Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield, had 14 votes after seven rounds, while runner-up, Sydney midfield gun, Luke Parker, had 13 votes to the same stage.
Dangerfield took out the Medal with 35 votes, while Parker finished on 26 votes. So, this means that in the final 15 rounds of the season, Dangerfield polled 21 votes, Parker 13 votes, and Martin a whopping 24 votes.
Martin, in fact, didn’t poll a vote during the final two rounds of the season, which means he compiled those last 24 votes in only 13 games.
He picked up the three votes for being best-on-ground six times – v Fremantle, Round 9, Domain Stadium, v Essendon, Round 10, MCG, v Gold Coast, Round 12, MCG, v Brisbane, Round 14 (post-bye), MCG, v Essendon, Round 17, MCG, and v Geelong, Round 21, MCG.
Interestingly, he picked up the three votes in that late-season match against the Cats, which Richmond lost by four points, while Dangerfield, who he went head-to-head with, picked up one vote.
The 25 votes Martin polled was his best result in a Brownlow count, eclipsing the 21 he managed last year.
How the Tigers fared overall...
Maiden All Australian and best and fairest Dustin Martin again caught the umpires' attention with six best-on-ground performances to finish the count on 25 votes and in third place overall. The 25-year-old finished 16 votes clear of the next best Tiger, captain Trent Cotchin, on nine. Richmond tallied 52 votes for the night.
Top five
25 - Dustin Martin
9 - Trent Cotchin
7* - Alex Rance
4 - Ben Griffiths
3 - Brandon Ellis
2 - Jack Riewoldt
Dustin Martin stormed home to finish third overall. Picture: AFL Photos
