DON'T ARGUE | The Dustin Martin story

The story of Richmond champion Dustin Martin as told by those close to him.

[Yellowandblackscot]

I started watching AFL when my best mate moved to Melbourne in 2010. My mate lived in Richmond so he started going to see his local team. Fell in love the game.
The TV subscription i had showed live AFL games so I'd sit in Aberdeen tens of thousands miles away. we'd talk on the phone between Quarters and I also started to fall love with the game.
Dusty was just starting to dominate. Watching and learning the game as Martin developed into the most incredible player of his generation was unbelievable luck.

I didn't just learn about footy, I learnt about Australia, well Victoria! What an amazing city Melbourne is. I live in a country with the same population as Melbourne. Scotland obviously has a lot of links to Australia but I started soaking up the culture. Now in 2025 we hear a lot of negativity about Australia but trust me from what I see and hear if you are a normal family you"ll have a lot of the same problems as us but Scotland's cities are not in a good place right now. Aberdeen is an oil city. At it's height tens of thousands folk were earning massive money. these jobs are gone and I've seen a quick decline in the city. I've also seen my mates move all over the world to give their families the best possible chances. So next time you hear or read somebody running down Australia be proud. I don't know anyone moving home! It's still a place millions dream of living in.

Anyway off on a tangent there. I am so grateful during a very difficult time to watch Richmond and Dusty Martin grow into a team and man who gave thousands huge amounts of entertainment. All fans regardless of who they go for enjoy some of Dustin's more unbelievable skill and pure instinctive genius.

I was in 2020 stuck in a flat in a shitty area, To be honest you were careful leaving the apartment block before Covid! Watching the Tigers and having the time to watch every other game kept me sane during the lockdowns. a rest bite for a few hours, I also got to really know the game, the history and the current game. I loved 2017 and 2019 getting up at 4am to watch this incredible team win and watch Dustin Martin become not just a Richmond great but a great of the game.

March 2020 I watched an empty MCG host the traditional Carlton game. It was a crazy time. Watching the tigers get to the finals was a massive boost when the world was becoming a very strange place 2020 was special. The Gabba, a 8am start, my best mate on the phone watching like me onTV. After all the crap with Covid that amazing game against Geelong was the best few hours of the year by a long way! It's not just the game, i've kept a relationship with one of my best mates going stronger that ever. Thanks Dusty you brought people together, won everything going and made us proud to follow Richmond!

Winning was a lot of fun but watching that team Cotchin, Riewoldt, Lynch, so many guys giving it all week in week out gave me so much enjoyment. Sport brings people together. Australia has a amazing tradition of not only producing world class athletes but also offering facilities for everyone. The weather helps!

I despite the quick decline am proud to follow Richmond. I'll have a lot of early Sunday mornings this year! I loved watching Dusty and its going to take years to turn Richmond around. Last year was difficult and I can't see this year being any better. Hopefully some blokes stand up and show the passion of that 2020 team.We might not win much but if we show heart and determination i'll be happy.

[AhmetOzen-zdmx]

Dusty retiring melt my heart. I love to watch him play for ever. What a champion. Thank you Dusty. Thank you Richmond.

[HowtoGrow-plants]

Bombers supporter here. Your a champ dusty we will miss you

[carlosclint]

Made me fall in love with the game forever💛🖤 so glad I witnessed it all!

[Smeeagain]

Certainly one of a kind and taken for granted we wont see another player like him and some people never will

[James-loi]

What an incredible footy player one of the best ever ❤

[barbaraperfect]

What a brilliant Guy. Unstoppable Dusty 😢

[michaelt]

Richmond fans love you, Dusty. A Tiger for life! 🐯

[bradwade]

2017 greatest season ever by an individual, only man with the hat trick, brownlow, norm smith, premiership, he's entitled to do whatever he wants

[MakaylaArgus]

DUSTIN MARTIN THE GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME
💛🖤💛🖤💛🖤

[lilacsgalore]

What an amazing young man, my most favorite player to watch… (I have barracked for Collingwood for over 50 years). I wish him well and whatever he does he will succeed. ❤with Respect.

[geoffmcdonnell]

So much joy he bought us all who were able to watch his craft - thanks mate

[ElizaBradshaw-wz]

we will miss you from all of the Richmond fans

[Girlgamer-tf]

When I four dusty, I know he would be a champion it is so sad the he left us but don’t argue with dusty

[CathieSmith-ck]

Simply the best afl player in this century awesome job Dusty enjoy your retirement

[CathieSmith-ck]

Absolutely a true gentleman on and off the field 😊

[LOYAL]

iM NOT A RICHMOND SUPPORTER BUT HE IS A SUPERSTAR WHAT A CAREER EVERYONE WILL MISS YOU DUSTY

[LucaMc]

Discovered this on Brownlow Night 2024 and it's just so beautiful. Perfection. Dustin. Thankyou

[jooosha]

GOAT. We are lucky to have watched him

[tessshanley]

What a legend. I don't barrack for Richmond