Triple Richmond premiership champions Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin turned back time with their impressive goalkicking performances in last night’s big Round 9 match against Geelong at the MCG.

The veteran pair kicked seven goals between them ((Martin four and Cotchin three) out of a total of 16 in the Tigers’ decisive 24-point win.

It is the first time they have both score multiple goals in the same match since the Round 2, 2017 clash with Collingwood.

On that occasion, Martin and Cotchin booted two goals apiece in a 19-point Richmond victory.

The previous time they both kicked three goals or more in the same game (Martin three, Cotchin three) was in Round 18 of the 2012 season against Carlton, when the Tigers were beaten by four points.

Dusty’s four-goal haul in last night’s contest was his best since Round 9, 2021 v Greater Western Sydney, when he also finished with four goals.

Prior to that, it was his brilliant four-goal display in Richmond’s 2020 Grand Final triumph over Geelong.

Cotchin hadn’t registered multiple goals in a game since his two-goal effort against Gold Coast in Round 16, 2019 at Heritage Bank Stadium.

And it was Round 23, 2016 v Sydney at the SCG, when he previously finished with three goals in a game.

His highest goal tally in a season is 21 in 2012, with a best match return of five v St Kilda, Round 15, 2014 at Marvel Stadium.

Martin’s best goal total in a season is 37 in 2017 and his record goal return in a game is six, which he’s achieved twice, and both times v Brisbane – Round 4, 2018 at the MCG, and the 2019 qualifying final at the Gabba.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick praised the goalkicking exploits of Martin and Cotchin against the Cats in his post-match press conference.

“Dustin got the scoreboard reward today that he probably hasn’t had for games previous. And Trent was the same,” Hardwick said.

“I thought his two first-quarter goals were really, really special and we needed them, to be fair . . . Those goals were really important.”