Dustin Martin
Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (13:52): I want to pay tribute to Dustin Martin, who announced his retirement from AFL football last week. Dustin is originally from my electorate – the boy from Yapeen, who played junior football for Campbell’s Creek and then Castlemaine and Bendigo Pioneers before being drafted to the mighty Richmond Football Club in the 2009 draft. Fifteen years, 302 games and 338 goals later, Dustin retires as one of the most decorated players of all time, including as a three-time premiership player; a three-time Norm Smith medallist; the Brownlow medallist of 2017; the recipient of the Leigh Matthews trophy, the AFL’s Most Valuable Player award, for 2017; the AFL Coaches Association champion player of the year award in 2017; a four-time all-Australian team member; a three-time Gary Ayres Award recipient; a two-time Jack Dyer medallist; twice being selected in the best 22 under 22 team; and also an AFL Rising Star nominee in 2010. I have had the pleasure of meeting Dusty several times during his years at the Tigers, and he is one of the most gentle, shy and unassuming AFL players I have ever met. But on the field he dominated, and he lifted the Tigers to three premierships with his sheer brilliance. Dustin leaves us with so many memories, but my favourite will always be his fourth goal in the 2020 grand final when he sealed the 2020 premiership by stealing the ball out of Stanley’s and Dangerfield’s hands, brushing Dangerfield off like a fly and kicking that amazing goal. Thank you, Dusty.