How can you have three premierships, three Norm Smith Medals, a Brownlow Medal, four All-Australian blazers, two best and fairests … and still be getting better?
It's the impossible question Dustin Martin is answering.
The Richmond superstar was simply dominant on Thursday night, impacting in every important moment as the Tigers got their season off to a winning start.
Martin had 31 disposals, two goals, four goal assists and 12 score involvements in a scintillating, brilliant performance.
Remarkably, Martin's heat map from the game displayed that not one of his 31 disposals came from behind the centre circle, highlighting just how much of an impact he had in the most threatening areas of the field.
His remarkable goal in the second quarter split the game open, while his second goal in the final term just about killed the game off.
When the Tigers need a spark, they've always got the man to provide it.
Most of the time, that man is Martin.
With the scores level nearing half-time, a moment of sheer brilliance from 'Dusty' handed the reigning premiers the ascendency and split a scrappy and even contest wide open.
Martin smothered Liam Jones' kick, collected the ball in the same motion, produced a signature fend-off to evade the tackle of Lochie O'Brien and snapped truly on the run.
It was pure, unfiltered quality and helped Richmond into a crucial 11-point lead at the main break.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick signalled over the summer that Martin was getting better. For those who didn't think it was possible, do you believe him now?
