Another top-class display from brilliant Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin, in yesterday’s 26-point victory over Carlton at the MCG, has prompted star Tiger key defender Alex Rance to declare him the game’s greatest current-day player.

Martin finished the Round 14 match with an equal game-high 30 disposals, including a team-high 16 contested possessions, team-high six clearances, equal game-high seven inside-50s, plus six marks. And he again produced some breathtakingly powerful passages of play that, seemingly, only he is capable of.

“In my opinion, he’s definitely the best player in the competition, and I just love playing with him,” Rance told Triple M in the Richmond rooms post-game.

Rance reflected on Martin’s remarkable strength, and ability to overwhelm opponents with his trademark ‘Don’t argue’ fend-off.

“I remember the first day he actually came to the football club . . . We were doing some stoppage drills and I was just amazed at how strong he was at that age.

“He doesn’t even really do any weights in the gym – it’s just all technique and explosiveness at the right time.”