Opinion Can Dustin Martin be the GOAT? (Answer: no)

[STPer18]

Dusty was a great finals player, no doubt.

He had three fantastic GF performances, but even Richmond supporters would agree that the overall quality of opponents was... low.

Anyway, you agree with my point - as a Richmond supporter you rank Dusty above GAJ.

Let's see what some other neutrals think.

Moved Thread - Who was/is the better player. Gary Ablett jnr or Dustin Martin?

Different players. Ablett jnr was a dominant midfeider who accumulated possessions at will. Dustin is the ultimate big game player and probably the greatest finals player of all time.

www.bigfooty.com

 

[Cyclops]

Dusty likely the greatest big game player ever, probably gone past Billy Picken Snake Baker and Dermott Brereton.

Not the best player ever unless you make the criteria "big game performances".

 

[Meteoric Rise]

It will take a long time, but records are made to be broken.
For example, if North Melbourne and West Coast finally start getting double figure wins in a season, Sheezel and Reid are the type of players who could challenge 147.

Yes, Matthews' era was more high scoring (meaning goals were easier to come across), but it was also an era with far less disposals, meaning his average of 27 was probably closer to 30 or even 35 in todays' game.

It is always difficult to compare players from decades apart.
In any case, I would still have GAJ comfortably above Dusty from a career perspective.

The GAJ vs. Matthews debate is an interesting one.

Ablett Jr 4 Grand Finals for 13 Smith Medal votes. Dusty 3 Grand Finals for 43 Smith Medal votes.

Ablett Jr finals averaged 23 disposals 1.3 goals + assists. Dusty finals averaged 22 disposals, 2.8 goals + assists.

Ablett Jr probably has it over everyone else in the modern era for consistently high level home & away performances, though Franklin is probably at least his equal in reality once you allow for the positions they played. Ablett's big game record is decent, but is pretty middling for players at this level in the discussion.

Where with all these players their finals records seem to be a step down from their incredible home & away records, with Dusty it is the opposite. His finals performances are a step up from his very credible home & away record. But then he threw in 2017 which is pretty clearly the most decorated season any player has ever played.

 

[Sirlemsip]

Moved Thread - Who was/is the better player. Gary Ablett jnr or Dustin Martin?

Different players. Ablett jnr was a dominant midfeider who accumulated possessions at will. Dustin is the ultimate big game player and probably the greatest finals player of all time.

www.bigfooty.com

Cheers.

For those too lazy to click a few times:

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Cheers.

For those too lazy to click a few times:

View attachment 2204861

If he was a better player, it is funny how it didn't show in the most important games.

I would have thought if you want an overwhelming argument to being better than another player you need to be performing at least somewhere near as well as him in the biggest games.

 

[Sirlemsip]

Ablett Jr 4 Grand Finals for 13 Smith medal votes. Dusty 3 Grand Finals for 43 Smith Medal votes.

Ablett Jr finals averaged 23 disposals 1.3 goals + assists. Dusty finals averaged 22 disposals, 2.8 goals + assists.

Ablett Jr probably has it over everyone else in the modern era for consistently high level home & away performances, though Franklin is probably at least his equal in reality once you allow for the positions they played. Ablett's big game record is decent, but is pretty middling for players at this level in the discussion.

Where with all these players their finals records seem to be a step down from their incredible home & away records, with Dusty it is the opposite. His finals performances are a step up from his very credible home & away record. But then he threw in 2017 which is pretty clearly the most decorated season any player has ever played.

Agree that Dusty was a better finals player than GAJ.

If I were to rank the three players you mentioned overall (H&A + Finals):
1. GAJ
2. Buddy
3. Dusty

Please note, this is not a slight on Dusty.
He was fantastic, and you could argue that if one was to look at ONLY Grand Finals, or even ONLY finals - Dusty might be the GOAT.
But overall, in the AFL era (90s to now), he isn't the GOAT.
And if we were to take into account players from before the AFL era (like Matthews, Ablett Snr, etc) he drops even further down the list.

 

[TheUnicorn]

Ya'll really about to revisit the same arguments for what feels like the 50th time?
Will Falcon be joining us on his 50th account also?

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Agree that Dusty was a better finals player than GAJ.

If I were to rank the three players you mentioned overall (H&A + Finals):
1. GAJ
2. Buddy
3. Dusty

Please note, this is not a slight on Dusty.
He was fantastic, and you could argue that if one was to look at ONLY Grand Finals, or even ONLY finals - Dusty might be the GOAT.
But overall, in the AFL era (90s to now), he isn't the GOAT.
And if we were to take into account players from before the AFL era (like Matthews, Ablett Snr, etc) he drops even further down the list.

I don't take it as a knock on Dusty. The other two are genuinely great players, accepted as either the best 2 or 2 of the best 3 to play this century.

I personally think Dusty will have a stake in any GOAT or similar discussion until players beat his unique records, because they pertain to:

• unprecedented and as yet unmatched career finals performances, &
• the most decorated season ever played where he basically unified every major award the game bestows.

 

[_RT_]

Given his talents Dustin Martin was one of the most underwhelming home & away players in history.

I don’t clear nearly enough to fact check, but I find it surprising that he ever won any home and away season awards at all.

Tell the truth, you're the genius behind this aren't you

 

[Mr Meow]

Ya'll really about to revisit the same arguments for what feels like the 50th time?
Will Falcon be joining us on his 50th account also?

Not me, this one has already conclusively been put to bed.

Shameless stuff by MR but I see his thread was just thrown in here anyway.

 

[Sttew]

Can't believe this thread has reared its ugly head again, and no surprises why or by who.

GAJ >>>>>> Dusty

Longevity is underrated and GAJ had that in spades compared with Dusty
Dusty's GF were superior. GAJ's best GF was the 2008 GF.
GAJ's overall record is superior. See awards comparison

 

[Forward Press]

Wouldn't be an off-season without a Richmond poster desperately seeking validation.

 

[Noidnadroj]

Dusty had many 'good' seasons, but only one truly amazing season (2017).
Yes, it was probably the best individual season - in the modern/AFL era with current stat records.

The majority of supporters (i.e. non-Richmond supporters) if given the choice would easily take the whole career of GAJ over Dusty.

I would also strongly argue that Leigh Matthews' 1977 season was better than Dusty in 2017.
Hawthorn didn't win the premiership that season, but Lethal's stats that year were absurd:

• 27.1 disposals / game
• 3.8 goals / game

For comparison, Dusty's 2017:

• 29.7 disposals / game
• 1.5 goals / game

From 2011-2015, Martin averaged about 24 disposals and 1.18 goals per game.

For some modern day context, from 2022-2024 averaging 24 and 1.18 in a single season has been achieved by Bont and Heeney, once each in 2024. That’s it. Nobody did it in 2022 or 2023.

Martin averaged that across 5 x seasons - 130 x games… before Richmond were any good and before Martin was regarded as elite.

Then from 2016-2020 his 5-year stretch of football was as good as anyone has ever produced:

- averaged 27.7 disposals and 1.21 goals per game across 113 games including finals. For some context here are the players who’ve averaged 27 and 1.2 in a SINGLE season:

2024: no-one
2023: no-one
2022: no-one
2021: no-one
2020: no-one
2019: no-one (Martin was closest with 26 and 1.4)
2018: no-one (Martin was closest with 25 and 1.3)
2017: Martin and Danger

You get the picture.

Also from 2016-20:

- 4 x AA (his non-AA year of 2019 he averaged 26.1 disposals, 1.4 goals per game, got 23 Brownlow votes and finished 6th in coach’s award - not quite good enough for an AA nod … hahaha).

- 2 x B&F
2 x second B&F

- Average of 24 Brownlow votes per season.

- average of 90 x coaches votes per season (inc finals).

- 3 x flags

- 3 x NS

- 3 x Gary Ayres Awards

- 79 x coaches votes in 12 x finals at 6.58 per game.

So you say 1 x amazing season… yet he averaged 27 and 1.2 across 5 x seasons… something not a single player has done
In a single season for 8 x years.

And even in what people mistakenly think was only his ‘good years’, the 5-years prior from 2011-2015 he averaged 24 and 1.2….

So in the decade and 220+ games from 2011-2020, Martin averaged 25+ and 1.18 goals per game.

Here is the list of players who’ve averaged 25+ and 1.15+ in a SINGLE season since 2012:

Martin
Bont
Heeney
Danger
Zorko
Gray
Fyfe
GAJ
Swan
Boomer
Beams
Stevie J

So absolutely elite players all of them.

Martin averaged across a decade from 2011-2020 what only 11 x other players have achieved in a single season.

But he was not consistent in H&A and had just 1 x amazing season … hmmmmm…


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[Noidnadroj]

The Ablett’s were both selfish players, which was great for their individual stats and personal accolades, but not necessarily helpful in making their teammates around them better. Probably lucky goal assist stats weren’t around during GAS’s career.

And GAJ was famous for not wanting to play hurt or with painkillers even when the team needed him … again, great for your individual stats to only play when cherry ripe, but not always what the team needs. He also cracked the sads if not given the midfield time he wanted.

It’s like the cricketer who always plays for red ink to save their average, even if the team needs them to slog quick runs. Great for the stats, but not necessarily what the team needs.



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[Corn Cobbers]

Martin had one good year and a couple of good grand finals

Didn't do much at the start or end of his career, in fact nothing really

Not even in the top 100 of all time, joke thread, N Daicos has already gone past him

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[Sirlemsip]

From 2011-2015, Martin averaged about 24 disposals and 1.18 goals per game.

For some modern day context, from 2022-2024 averaging 24 and 1.18 in a single season has been achieved by Bont and Heeney, once each in 2024. That’s it. Nobody did it in 2022 or 2023.

Martin averaged that across 5 x seasons - 130 x games… before Richmond were any good and before Martin was regarded as elite.

Then from 2016-2020 his 5-year stretch of football was as good as anyone has ever produced:

- averaged 27.7 disposals and 1.21 goals per game across 113 games including finals. For some context here are the players who’ve averaged 27 and 1.2 in a SINGLE season:

2024: no-one
2023: no-one
2022: no-one
2021: no-one
2020: no-one
2019: no-one (Martin was closest with 26 and 1.4)
2018: no-one (Martin was closest with 25 and 1.3)
2017: Martin and Danger

You get the picture.

Also from 2016-20:

- 4 x AA (his non-AA year of 2019 he averaged 26.1 disposals, 1.4 goals per game, got 23 Brownlow votes and finished 6th in coach’s award - not quite good enough for an AA nod … hahaha).

- 2 x B&F
2 x second B&F

- Average of 24 Brownlow votes per season.

- average of 90 x coaches votes per season (inc finals).

- 3 x flags

- 3 x NS

- 3 x Gary Ayres Awards

- 79 x coaches votes in 12 x finals at 6.58 per game.

So you say 1 x amazing season… yet he averaged 27 and 1.2 across 5 x seasons… something not a single player has done
In a single season for 8 x years.

And even in what people mistakenly think was only his ‘good years’, the 5-years prior from 2011-2015 he averaged 24 and 1.2….

So in the decade and 220+ games from 2011-2020, Martin averaged 25+ and 1.18 goals per game.

Here is the list of players who’ve averaged 25+ and 1.15+ in a SINGLE season since 2012:

Martin
Bont
Heeney
Danger
Zorko
Gray
Fyfe
GAJ
Swan
Boomer
Beams
Stevie J

So absolutely elite players all of them.

Martin averaged across a decade from 2011-2020 what only 11 x other players have achieved in a single season.

But he was not consistent in H&A and had just 1 x amazing season … hmmmmm…


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We aren't just talking about 'Great' players here. The discussion is about whether Dusty is the 'Greatest'.

Once again, I 100% agree that Dusty was a great player, easily in the top 10 players during the time he was active - potentially as high as number 3 behind GAJ and Buddy. This is debateable.

You have pulled some interesting stats, but you need to take off your Richmond glasses and assess them without bias.

GAJ, from 2007 to 2018 (12 year period):

• Average disposals per game: 30.00
• Average goals per game: 1.20

During Dusty's very good 10 year period he only ONCE averaged over 30 disposals in a single year (in 2016, a year when his goals average was the lowest of his whole career at 0.41/game)

Matthews, from 1971 to 1984 (14 year period):

• Average disposals per game: 23.40
• Average goals per game: 2.83

GF performances including: 1971 (21 disposals + 1 goal), 1976 (21 disposals + 1 goal), 1978 (28 disposals + 4 goals), 1983 (16 disposals + 6 goals)

Dusty is possibly the greatest FINALS player. He is arguably the greatest GRAND FINAL player.
He just isn't in the discussion for overall greatest player. In fact, he's well down the list.

 

[Sirlemsip]

The Ablett’s were both selfish players, which was great for their individual stats and personal accolades, but not necessarily helpful in making their teammates around them better. Probably lucky goal assist stats weren’t around during GAS’s career.

And GAJ was famous for not wanting to play hurt or with painkillers even when the team needed him … again, great for your individual stats to only play when cherry ripe, but not always what the team needs. He also cracked the sads if not given the midfield time he wanted.

It’s like the cricketer who always plays for red ink to save their average, even if the team needs them to slog quick runs. Great for the stats, but not necessarily what the team needs.



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You might want to look up actual stats before making statements like that.

Goal assist stats comparison between Dusty and GAJ:

• Dusty average across career: 0.73 / game
• GAJ average across career: 0.76 / game

Ablett might not have wanted to play hurt, but he did finish up with 55 more AFL games to his name than Dusty did.

I do agree that GAS was definitely selfish.