Legendary Richmond player Dustin Martin has called time on his illustrious 15-year AFL career.
The three-time Norm Smith medallist, triple premiership player, Brownlow Medallist, four-time All Australian, three-time Gary Ayers Medallist, and dual Jack Dyer Medal winner informed his teammates of the decision today.
“It is hard to put into words what the Richmond Football Club means to me, I love this place so much," Martin said.
“I will be forever grateful for the love and the support I have received from the people here.
"To my teammates, the brotherhood that we all share is what I value most as well as the bond with the staff and coaches… thank you to all of you.
“To my family and friends thank you for your unconditional love and support.
“To the Tiger Army, I have always felt so loved and supported throughout my career and for that I will be forever grateful. The memories that we have created together will live with me forever. Thank you.”
Martin, 33, played 302 games and booted 338 goals.
The supremely skilful and powerful inside midfielder that spent damaging periods forward, made his debut for Richmond in Round 1 of his first season (2010) and never played a reserves match for the Tigers.
From his second season until his 13th, Martin only once finished outside the top six of the Tigers' best and fairest (10th in 2012).
While still a teenager, Martin was already a star of the competition, averaging 22 disposals and booting 33 goals across the 2011 season.
By 2013, as Richmond returned to finals action for the first time in 12 years, Martin was a key cog in the Tigers' team and viewed across the competition as a top-line talent.
Martin won his first Jack Dyer Medal and All Australian honour in 2016, before bursting into superstardom while spearheading Richmond to the Club's drought-breaking 2017 premiership.
The Castlemaine product played arguably the most decorated AFL season of all time that season, claiming the Norm Smith Medal, Premiership, Brownlow Medal, Leigh Matthews MVP Trophy, AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year Award, All Australian, Gary Ayers Medal and Richmond's best and fairest.
Martin continued his exquisite form in the coming seasons, booting over 30 goals and averaging 25-plus disposals in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He then underlined his impeccable standing in the game in the 2019 finals series.
The 187cm midfielder/forward booted 12 goals across the campaign, including bags of six in the Qualifying Final and four in the premiership triumph.
Martin would then create and enter his own category as he became the games first triple Norm Smith Medallist while steering Richmond to the 2020 premiership.
The superstar, who was voted best on the ground by the coaches in all three of Richmond's knock-out finals that season, kicked four miraculous goals as the Tigers overcame a halftime deficit to defeat the Cats on Grand Final night.
Martin returned to top form in 2023, making the All-Australian squad of 40 and finishing runner-up in the Club's best and fairest for the fourth time in his career.
The superstar's final season included highlights of a 23-disposal, three-goal performance at Dreamtime at the 'G, and the MCG being filled by a staggering 92,000 people- doubling the expected attendance that was forecasted in the pre-season- for his 300th game against Hawthorn.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale echoed that it was hard to put into words the contribution Martin had made to the Club.
"So much has been said about Dustin's impact on our Club and the competition, but more than anything, and put simply, I think it is the joy that he gave the Tiger Army and those around him that might mean the most," Gale said.
"Three premierships and best on ground in each of them will always be his legend, and rightly, it, along with his unique aura, will be what he is best remembered for.
"But I think Dustin would be most proud of what he was able to achieve playing for a team… for our team—and the magnificent role he was able to play within that system, which let him be every bit the footballing genius that he was always destined to be.
"That genius was most evident when the stakes were at their highest, when the crowd was at its loudest, when all eyes were on him, and when the moments needed a hero.
"Dustin did it his way, and we are all just so lucky to have been Richmond people during his era of dominance. So, all I can say on behalf of everyone associated with our great Club is thank you to an icon. To our icon.”
Martin has retired with immediate effect.
