Martin entered 2018 as the best player in the league according to a pre-season Players Association poll, up from 12th position at the same time the previous year.
He trained at full strength during the off-season and played well in each of Richmond's two pre-season matches.
In round 1 he was named in Richmond's best players by AFL Media for a performance that included 32 disposals and a goal.
He added his second five-goal haul of his career the next week, in a loss to Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval.
Martin would outdo that effort just a fortnight later, posting a new career-high total with six goals in a wet and rainy 93-point win over the Brisbane Lions.
In round 6 he posted numerous game-highs with 10 clearances, 10 inside 50s and 605 metres gained and earned five votes as Richmond's second best player behind only captain Trent Cotchin.
After that match, Fox Footy reported that Martin had recorded just one of his 150 disposals that season in Richmond's defensive 50, with analyst Leigh Montagna explaining that Martin was tasked with attending centre bounces as a midfielder but would play forward of the ball at virtually all other points of the match.
A fortnight later Martin was effectively tagged out of Richmond's win over North Melbourne by Ben Jacobs and managed only 16 disposals, his lowest total in more than a year.
That match also marked the first time Martin had gone without scoring a goal or a behind since round 23, 2016.
In round 10's win over St Kilda, Martin kicked two goals and was named as one of Richmond's best by AFL Media.
He followed that performance with 28 disposals and a goal in round 11's win over Essendon before sitting out of round 12's matchup with Port Adelaide due to a minor calf injury.
To that point, it was just the fifth game Martin had missed due to injury or suspension in his AFL career and his first since round 22, 2014.
Martin returned after just one match, contributing 22 disposals and a goal in Richmond's round 13 victory over Geelong.
Later that week, Martin was named in Fox Footy's mid-year All Australian squad while also being named in the Herald Sun and AFL Media teams of 22 players.
Following the bye, Martin kicked a game-high two goals and added 30 disposals in a win over Adelaide at the MCG.
The following week he was adjust Richmond's best player in a loss to the Greater Western Sydney in which he received six coaches award votes.
He repeated the effort in round 18, named by The Age as Richmond's best in a win over St Kilda.
In round 19 he added three goals despite a strong tag from Collingwood's Levi Greenwood.
Martin was again named by The Age as Richmond's best with a two-goal performance in round 22, a win over Essendon that saw the club secure the season's minor premiership.
To that point Martin ranked first in the league for inside 50s and score involvements as well as second for centre clearances and seventh for goal assists recorded that season.
At the end of the home and away season, Martin was named at rover in the AFL's Player Ratings team of the year, was nominated for the AFLPA's MVP award and earned his third straight All-Australian selection.
He entered that year's Brownlow Medal count as bookmakers' second placed favourite and ranked first in AFL Media's Brownlow Predictor.

In the first week of the finals series, Martin played his 200th AFL match in a qualifying final victory over Hawthorn.
He became the 29th Richmond player to achieve the milestone and the quickest to do so, having achieved the feat eight years and five months after his initial debut.
He finished the match with 29 disposals, 10 clearances and a boundary line goal that The West Australian said would have been goal of the year had it been kicked during the home and away season and what Fox Footy commentator Jonathan Brown labelled "one of the greatest finals goals you'll ever see".
Media reports following that match suggested that Martin had suffered a corked thigh during play, a claim seemingly supported by Martin's limited training program the following week, but nonetheless continually denied by
Martin entered 2018 as the best player in the league according to a pre-season Players Association poll, up from 12th position at the same time the previous year. He trained at full strength during the off-season and played well in each of Richmond's two pre-season matches. In round 1 he was named in Richmond's best players by AFL Media for a performance that included 32 disposals and a goal. He added his second five-goal haul of his career the next week, in a loss to Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval. Martin would outdo that effort just a fortnight later, posting a new career-high total with six goals in a wet and rainy 93-point win over the Brisbane Lions. In round 6 he posted numerous game-highs with 10 clearances, 10 inside 50s and 605 metres gained and earned five votes as Richmond's second best player behind only captain Trent Cotchin. After that match, Fox Footy reported that Martin had recorded just one of his 150 disposals that season in Richmond's defensive 50, with analyst Leigh Montagna explaining that Martin was tasked with attending centre bounces as a midfielder but would play forward of the ball at virtually all other points of the match. A fortnight later Martin was effectively tagged out of Richmond's win over North Melbourne by Ben Jacobs and managed only 16 disposals, his lowest total in more than a year. That match also marked the first time Martin had gone without scoring a goal or a behind since round 23, 2016. In round 10's win over St Kilda, Martin kicked two goals and was named as one of Richmond's best by AFL Media. He followed that performance with 28 disposals and a goal in round 11's win over Essendon before sitting out of round 12's matchup with Port Adelaide due to a minor calf injury. To that point, it was just the fifth game Martin had missed due to injury or suspension in his AFL career and his first since round 22, 2014. Martin returned after just one match, contributing 22 disposals and a goal in Richmond's round 13 victory over Geelong. Later that week, Martin was named in Fox Footy's mid-year All Australian squad while also being named in the Herald Sun and AFL Media teams of 22 players. Following the bye, Martin kicked a game-high two goals and added 30 disposals in a win over Adelaide at the MCG. The following week he was adjust Richmond's best player in a loss to the Greater Western Sydney in which he received six coaches award votes. He repeated the effort in round 18, named by The Age as Richmond's best in a win over St Kilda. In round 19 he added three goals despite a strong tag from Collingwood's Levi Greenwood. Martin was again named by The Age as Richmond's best with a two-goal performance in round 22, a win over Essendon that saw the club secure the season's minor premiership. To that point Martin ranked first in the league for inside 50s and score involvements as well as second for centre clearances and seventh for goal assists recorded that season. At the end of the home and away season, Martin was named at rover in the AFL's Player Ratings team of the year, was nominated for the AFLPA's MVP award and earned his third straight All-Australian selection. He entered that year's Brownlow Medal count as bookmakers' second placed favourite and ranked first in AFL Media's Brownlow Predictor.
In the first week of the finals series, Martin played his 200th AFL match in a qualifying final victory over Hawthorn. He became the 29th Richmond player to achieve the milestone and the quickest to do so, having achieved the feat eight years and five months after his initial debut. He finished the match with 29 disposals, 10 clearances and a boundary line goal that The West Australian said would have been goal of the year had it been kicked during the home and away season and what Fox Footy commentator Jonathan Brown labelled "one of the greatest finals goals you'll ever see". Media reports following that match suggested that Martin had suffered a corked thigh during play, a claim seemingly supported by Martin's limited training program the following week, but nonetheless continually denied by
Dustin Martin