We gained an interesting insight into how Richmond champion Dustin Martin greatly increases the anxiety levels of opponents on game day, during Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley’s media conference following last night’s epic Round 4 encounter at Adelaide Oval.

Martin was one of the Tigers’ best in their two-point loss, finishing the match with 23 disposals, four marks and seven score involvements, including a trademark, brilliant snap goal early in the last quarter.

Hinkley enlightened the assembled media as to why it is so difficult to curtail Martin’s major influence.

“Dusty’s a great player. The goal he kicked again . . . you have a nightmare when you see him,” Hinkley said.

“For people who get out there and go, ‘Oh, you’ve got to do something to Dustin’, he does five unbelievable things.

“I’ve played with some great players, watched some great players, but you nearly can’t stop them. And, for all those people who say you just tag them, you just can’t.

“We do our best to stop them, but they just do brilliant things when they need to. And he’s (Martin) one of those players.

“We know the challenge because he goes wherever he needs to go for the team, and he just knows the moments.

“Like, I watched the Grand Final last year . . . I just see him pick those moments, and I don’t know how he does it.

“But he’s done it over and over again, so you can’t call it a fluke.”