Richmond superstar Dustin Martin, who has become the only player in AFL history to win three Norm Smith Medals, now holds another special Grand Final record following this year’s tremendous triumph over Geelong at the Gabba.
Since the introduction of AFL/VFL player statistics in 1965, Martin tops the list of players that have racked up 20-plus disposals and kicked multiple goals in winning Grand Finals for their teams.
Martin has accomplished this fantastic feat in the three premiership victories he’s played in with the Tigers.
He had 29 disposals and kicked two goals in the 2017 Grand Final against Adelaide, 22 disposals and four goals v Greater Western Sydney in 2019, and 21 disposals, four goals against Geelong this year.
Only five other players throughout the past 55 years have managed 20-plus disposals and multiple goals in a winning Grand Final more than once.
Triple Tiger premiership player Kevin Sheedy did it in Richmond’s 1973-74 back-to-back premiership years. Sheedy finished with 24 kicks, three goals in the Tigers’ 1973 Grand Final victory over Carlton and followed that up a year later with 29 kicks, two goals in the 1974 premiership-decider against North Melbourne.
Top-class Geelong trio Jimmy Bartel, Paul Chapman and Steve Johnston, along with Essendon champion Tim Watson also achieved the elite Grand Final-winning double twice.
