Dynamic Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin has the capacity to emulate the on-field deeds of Fremantle’s 2015 Brownlow Medallist Nathan Fyfe and Geelong’s newly-arrived (from Adelaide) superstar Patrick Dangerfield.
That’s the learned opinion of the Tigers’ captain Trent Cotchin, who believes there remains a huge upside to Martin, runner-up in this year’s Jack Dyer Medal.
“On the back of two really good seasons, he had another outstanding year . . . I think he’s got a lot more to offer and he’s going to get better again,” Cotchin told ‘Roar Vision’.
“I think if you looked at (him improving) his average numbers contested-wise as well, I see him in the same sort of category as a (Nathan) Fyfe and (Paddy) Dangerfield.
“He’s got the power, he’s obviously got the talent – he’s shown that – and can kick goals.
“So he brings even more of a contested game to what he already has, and he’s unstoppable.”
Martin, 24, averaged 8.8 contested possessions and 17.3 uncontested possessions per game in season 2015, and he kicked 24 goals, which was the fourth most by a Richmond player.
Fyfe was ranked first in the competition for contested possessions per game, with an average of 17.8, while Dangerfield was third in this category with an average of 15.2.