AFL grand final: Richmond's Dustin Martin wins Norm Smith Medal to complete record-breaking season

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Has anyone ever played a better season than Dustin Martin did in 2017?

The numbers make it a hard case to argue against — no player has polled more Brownlow votes in a year than Martin this year, and no player in the game's history has won the Brownlow and the Norm Smith in the same year.

It's an unbelievable record that, during grand final week, many confidently predicted would be set, such has been Martin's dominance throughout the season and especially in September, and on Saturday afternoon he came good on his promise.

It was a tight race for the Norm Smith, with the telling influence of Bachar Houli rewarded with only three fewer votes than Martin, but few could complain when his name was read out by James Hird.

Martin has played better games this season, but only his own high standards could mar what was a dominant midfield and forward display.

He won just about every one-on-one he was in, he kicked goals, he broke tackle after tackle and he stood up in a way many star players have failed to on grand final day.

But what might be most impressive about Martin as a footballer is the finesse that lives underneath the brutish exterior — his sly inside kicks, his deft handballs, his subtle changes of directions.

It's that mix of power and precision that has made Martin the AFL's marquee man, and it was on display in all four quarters on grand final day.

And then there was the contract stand-off, the "will he, won't he" that dominated the off-field matters of the 2017 season.

In hindsight, it's hard to imagine Dusty would have entertained any other offers. Any doubts he might have once had about his future have now been washed away — Richmond has been able to give him everything he could possibly have wanted and more.

We've learnt a lot about Dusty this week, and he has always seemed uncomfortable with the attention that comes with being the best player in the game.

He kept his speech short on the MCG dais, but the three words he signed off with were enough to make it the most popular of the day.

Like every Richmond fan in the world, the cry was clear — "Yellow and black!".

Topics: australian-football-league, sport, richmond-3121, melbourne-3000, vic, australia</s>AFL grand final: Richmond earns a famous victory, beating Adelaide by 48 points to end a 37-year drought

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The Richmond fairytale is finally complete, as the Tigers beat the Adelaide Crows by 48 points at the MCG to break a 37-year premiership drought.

Jack Graham was the surprise X-factor, kicking three goals in only his fifth game of AFL football, as the Tigers powered away from the Crows in the second half to win 16.12 (108) to 8.12 (60).

The Tigers' last grand final appearance had been in a 1982 loss to Carlton, and their last flag win was in 1980 when they crushed Collingwood.

But the party started early at the MCG as the roars of 40-50,000 Tigers fans at the ground lifted several levels, with their team leading by 34 points at three quarter-time on the way to a famous victory.

For Dustin Martin, the week ended on a perfect note, with the Brownlow medallist becoming the first player to add a Norm Smith medal for best-on-ground to the league's best-and-fairest.

He had 29 disposals and two goals, marshalling the Yellow and Black to a brilliant flag-winning performance.

There had been a huge roar for the Tigers as the game got under way, but it was the Crows who settled better.

The Tigers brought pressure, trying to stop the Crows moving through the corridor.

But Matt Crouch found Rory Sloane with a chip and Sloane kicked straight for the Crows opener. A minute or so later, Nick Vlaustuin slipped over under pressure and Eddie Betts took care of the rest.

The Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt missed a string of chances for goal, and it took until the 16-minute mark for the Tigers to get a major, when Josh Caddy marked in the left forward pocket, ran round and converted.

Martin was under wraps early, but he showed his ability just into time on when he fended off the Adelaide defence, backed off, found Bachar Houli in space, and the midfielder kicked truly to put Richmond in the lead for the first time.

Top six possession-getters Matt Crouch (ADEL) — 36

Dustin Martin (RICH) — 28

Brad Crouch (ADEL) — 28

Rory Laird (ADEL) — 26

Dion Prestia (RICH) — 25

Shane Edwards (RICH) — 24

The intensity had not waned, and the Crows were not backing off. Sloane got the ball out of a pack and snapped his second, to regain the lead — then Hugh Greenwood added another snap to put the lead out to 11 points at quarter-time.

It was fierce early in the second, as Riewoldt finally got on the board, but he needed some sloppy defending from Adelaide, letting his kick bounce through with no one on the line.

It continued to be tight. Martin got clear at one point, and he thrilled the crowd with a trademark burst down the wing. He centred it for Riewoldt, but a step off the mark saw the Tigers blow the chance.

Eventually the Tigers put another one on, as Jacob Townsend was awarded a free in a marking contest just inside 50, and he slotted the set shot to put Richmond within two points.

The Crows had been ahead in intercept marks and contested possessions, but the Tigers kept applying pressure, and Jack Graham swooped on the ball deep in time on to kick Richmond's fifth.

Top six goalscorers Jack Graham (RICH) — 3

Rory Sloane (ADEL) — 2

Jack Riewoldt (RICH) — 2

Taylor Walker (ADEL) — 2

Jacob Townsend (RICH) — 2

Dustin Martin (RICH) — 2

A minute later the Tigers fans were up and about, as a quick foray forward found Martin to outmuscle his Crows opponent and mark and goal.

The Tigers had kicked four in a row, and suddenly Adelaide was in a spot of bother.

With Richmond up by nine at the main break, there were concerns on both sides.

Crows defender Luke Brown was off with hamstring trouble, and it had not been a good half for the captains.

Trent Cotchin had just nine touches, while Taylor Walker had been kept well out of the play on just four disposals.

Tigers press on in third term

The Crows had dominated the scoring in third quarters all season. But the Tigers had not got the memo.

Three minutes into the term, a free for a high tackle from Sloane saw Jack Graham kick his side's seventh.

Richmond was hammering inside 50 at every opportunity, and at the eight-minute mark, Shaun Grigg marked and kicked another.

Then 90 seconds later, when Kane Lambert added the Tigers' ninth, the lead was out to 28 points and the wave was threatening to wash the Crows away.

At the 14-minute mark, the Crows finally got clear and found Taylor Walker inside 50. The skipper held his nerve to kick the goal and keep Adelaide in it, but the momentum was lost when Graham booted his third of the game.

It was all heading one way, and in time on, Martin took possession 25m out and fed the ball out to Jason Costagna, who snapped over his shoulder.

On a day when Brandon Flowers had set the benchmark with the pre-match entertainment, it was fitting that a Tiger was there to deliver the killer blow.

The last quarter was like an extended victory lap. The Crows needed a record-breaking comeback to win, and they tried to make a game of it, kicking two goals in 90 seconds through Walker and Brad Crouch.

But the football gods would have none of it, as Townsend kicked his second and then Dan Butler added another to allow Richmond to reach the 100-point mark for the game.

It was fitting that Martin got his name on the scoresheet again in time on, raising a huge roar from the masses of Tigers fans in the stands. By this stage Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale, and former Tigers spearhead (now Channel Seven broadcaster) Matthew Richardson were in tears, as the result began to sink in.

Charlie Cameron grabbed a late consolation goal for Adelaide, but as the siren went the MCG began to resound to the strains of "We are from Tigerland", and long-suffering Richmond fans began to live their dream.

Topics: sport, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000, sa, vic, richmond-3121, melbourne-3000, australia

First posted</s>Brownlow Medalist Dustin Martin has created history today during the AFL Grand Final, but he didn't forget to give share a special message to his dad.

Richmond Tigers defeated Adelaide Crows in the 2017 grand final and Martin told 7 News it was 'the best thing in the world'.

'I honestly just can not believe it, it's a dream come true,' he said.

'I'm proud of each and every player that played today.'

Shortly before being awarded the Norm Smith medal, Dustin's quick interview ended with a message to his father as his father, Shane Martin, who watched on from New Zealand.

'Love you dad,' Martin said before rushing off to celebrate the grand win with the Tiger army.

Mr Martin was deported earlier this month after his visa was cancelled because of his criminal record and 'association with outlaw motorcycle gangs'.

Although the Richmond player's father has never been charged, he is banned from Australia.

The new laws were passed September 4 and signed off by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove in anticipation of a High Court decision.

Mr Martin reportedly wanted to be in the country for this year's Brownlow Medal count, which his son won.

The Tiger player then went on to win the Norm Smith medal, making him the first player in AFL history to win the trio of awards; the Brownlow Medal, Norm Smith Medal and premiership flag.

The yellow and black superstar has become one of the richest sportsman in Australia after signing an $8 million contract with the football club.</s>MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A 37-year title drought has ended for the Richmond Tigers in the Australian Football League.

The Tigers beat the Adelaide Crows 16.12 (108) to 8.12 (60) on Saturday in the Australian Football League grand final.

Richmond hadn’t won a national Australian Rules football title since 1980, and lost to Carlton when they last appeared in a grand final in 1982. Adelaide won the league title in 1998 and hadn’t been back to the final since.

The win came before a capacity crowd of 100,021 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It was close until halftime, when Richmond led by nine points. But a dominating third quarter saw the Tigers take a 34-point lead, and they didn’t let up to open the fourth quarter, kicking the first two six-point goals to extend the lead to 45 points.

Richmond’s Dustin Martin ended his incredible AFL season by winning the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player in the grand final. Earlier this week, he won the Brownlow Medal for being the best and fairest player in the AFL this season.

Copyright © 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.</s>Richmond’s Dustin Martin has capped perhaps the greatest individual season in AFL history by claiming the Norm Smith Medal in the grand final victory over Adelaide.

Martin was judged best afield in the 48-point victory on Saturday, and can add the award to his premiership medallion and Brownlow medal for his efforts across the home-and-away season.

Martin had 21 contested possessions and kicked two goals in Richmond’s first premiership in 37 years. Receiving his medal from previous recipient James Hird, the 26-year-old yelled “yellow and black” into the microphone to the delight of the Richmond faithful.

“I honestly cannot believe it. This is a dream come true,” he said. “This is the best thing in the world. I’m proud of each and every player that played today.”

Martin polled 13 votes from the five-person judging panel, seen as best afield by four of the judges. Terry Wallace saw Bachar Houli as the man of the match, who was the only other player to poll votes from each judge.

Martin’s performance will also see him receive the Gary Ayres medal for best performer in the finals series, in addition to the swag of media awards he has also received through 2017.</s>MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A 37-year title drought has ended for the Richmond Tigers in the Australian Football League.

The Tigers beat the Adelaide Crows 16.12 (108) to 8.12 (60) on Saturday in the AFL grand final. Richmond hadn't won a national Australian Rules football title since 1980, and lost to Carlton when they last appeared in a grand final in 1982.

The win came before a capacity crowd of 100,021 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It was close until halftime, when Richmond led by nine points. But a dominating third quarter saw the Tigers take a 34-point lead, and they didn't let up to open the fourth quarter, kicking the first two six-point goals to extend the lead to 45 points.

Richmond's Dustin Martin ended his incredible AFL season by winning the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player in the grand final.

Earlier this week, he won the Brownlow Medal for being the best and fairest player in the AFL this season. He's now the first player in league history to win the Norm Smith and Brownlow medals and the league title in the same season.

"I honestly cannot believe it," Martin said. "This is the best thing in the world."

Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt said this season had been quite a turnaround.

"Who would have thought we finished 13th last year, beaten by (113) points in the last round and now we're ... premiers," Riewoldt said.

The Tigers received an outstanding game from 19-year-old midfielder Jack Graham, the youngest player in the final. Playing just his fifth AFL game, Graham kicked three goals and was strong defensively.

"Superb finish by a young player," former Geelong star Cameron Ling said while commentating for Australian television's Seven Network.</s>Tiger superstar Dustin Martin may have taken home the trio of prestigious AFL awards but fans are slamming the player, claiming he doesn't deserve his latest accolade.

Martin took home the Brownlow Medal earlier in the week, followed by the Norm Smith Medal on Saturday and the AFL premiership flag.

While thousands of people congratulated the multi million-dollar player, some fans believe other players were more worthy of the Norm Smith Medal.

'What exactly did #dustinmartin do all game? He didn't deserve the norm smith. #AFLgrandfinal,' one person posted on social media.

Some angered fans called the Norm Smith Medalist a 'ridiculous' and 'poor decision by the AFL' that was just a 'popularity pick'.

The outraged footy supporters believed there were 'three to five better' players than Martin, calling it the 'worst Norm Smith [they] can recall'.

'Ridiculous. Dustin Martin was not the best player on the ground. Wasn't in the best 3 (sic) or 4 (sic),' someone wrote.

'Might be unpopular but Dustin Martin was so far from the Norm Smith it's not funny. Talk about favourites,' another shared.

'DustinMartin didn't deserve the Norm Smith at all!,' a social media user posted online.

The Tigers superstar capped off an incredible year by winning the Norm Smith medal for best on ground as his team clinched their first AFL premiership in 37 years.

The Tigers have broken the drought to win their first flag since 1980 in front of 100,021 people at the MCG in Melbourne.

The local favourites defeated the Adelaide Crows by 108 points to 60, pulling away from the South Australian team in the final quarter.

Dustin Martin's presence on the field was decisive as he claimed the award for player of the game, as was that of Jack Graham - the teenager playing in only his fifth senior game.

After a pressure-filled first quarter the Tigers began to dominate in the second and third terms before pulling away in the last.

Adelaide rallied at the end of the final quarter, scoring two quick goals to raise hoped of a comeback, but the Tigers held on to win.

The game was off to a tense start with the Crows holding their position, arms linked long after the end of the national anthem while the Tigers spread out onto the field.

First blood went to the Crows when a Matt Crouch chip kick found an unattended Rory Sloane.

The Crows star slotted the Sherrin through the big sticks, much to the delight of the Adelaide sections of the MCG sellout crowd.

Moments later Eddie Betts doubled the Crows' total when Nick Vlastuin spilled the ball straight to him.

Down 12-0 after five minutes the Tigers started to exert some pressure of their own but Jack Riewoldt squandered multiple chances to score.

Josh Caddy scored first for Richmond with only seven minutes left in the quarter, and then Dustin Martin and Bachar Houli teamed up to put them in front but the Crows hit back to take the lead before the break.

Jake Lever and Josh Caddy were involved in a scuffle on quarter time, with Caddy's Tigers teammates running in to assist.

Jack Riewoldt then opened the scoring for the Tigers in the second term, redeeming his earlier blunders.

The Crows led the quarter until just a few minutes before half-time, but Dustin Martin was again involved in a Tigers goal to put Richmond in front again.

It was a goalless quarter for the Adelaide team, their first in a second term this season, and the first time ever at the hands of Richmond.

Jack Graham kicked his second goal at the beginning of the third term, soon followed by one from Shaun Grigg to put Richmond 22 ahead.

The Tigers' sixth straight goal became seven when Kane Lambert scored after a turnover inside Richmond's forward fifty.

Adelaide hit back when captain Taylor Walker scored from 40 metres out, but the Tigers still led by 20.

Jack Graham then made it three for the game, the youngest player on the field making a mark in only his fifth senior match.

Next to score was Jason Castagna, leaving the Crows with a near impossible task in the final quarter.</s>They sang in the stands, danced in the streets, partied in the pubs and flocked to the local barber shop to get their hair cut like 'Dusty'.

But for tens of thousands of Richmond Tigers fans - many of who haven't yet been to bed - the celebrations are only just beginning after Saturday's AFL Grand Final win.

Less than 24 hours after their beloved side broke a 37-year premiership drought they flooded into their traditional home of Punt Road oval to continue the massive party.

And having led the team on-field throughout the entire year, superstar Dustin Martin seemingly did the same off-field last night - looking worse for wear on stage with his winning teammates on Sunday morning.

While the yellow and black guernsey he'd worn the day before was still on, the Tigers star hid most of his tattoos beneath a long sleeve jumper.

His famous haircut was also hidden beneath a black hat, but there was no hiding the fact he'd indulged into the early hours of the morning with his teammates.

Putting his hands on his head and sighing deeply, the cult figure was clearly feeling the effects of a big night of celebrations as he stood on stage.

But he certainly wasn't the only player or supporter among the crowd to be sporting bleary eyes, with thousands of excited Tigers faithful having barely slept.

Dressed in yellow and black and holding banners high in the air, they flooded through the gates to see their champions at the club's post-Grand Final celebration.

Despite there being many weary eyes among both players and supporters, there was no shortage of smiles in the crowd.

Many of those in attendance had just hours earlier taken over Swan Street - the main stretch of Richmond - and partied in sensational fashion.

As soon as the final siren sounded on Saturday afternoon the Tigers faithful among the 100,021 strong crowd flooded into the suburb nearby the MCG.

With the sound of the Tiger's theme song ringing out in every direction the suburb was nothing short of electric.

Most Richmond's pubs were already packed with punters who couldn't get a ticket to the game, many of who were still in tears and overcome with emotion after the siren.

But it was after the sun set that the party really kicked into gear.

Fans inside the MCG flooded onto the turf to watch The Killers perform before their beloved team was presented again.

Those in the streets of Richmond jumped on top of cars, shops and climbed up lamp poles to celebrate.

But things did get out of hand, with police forced to use pepper spray to contain the crowd as the party went into the early hours of Sunday morning.

One fan set fire to an Adelaide Crows scarf as he was cheered on by the Tiger army on Swan Street.

The Tigers beat the Crows 16.12 (108) to 8.12 (60) with star Dustin Martin winning the Norm Smith Medal as best afield.

It capped of an incredible week for the tattooed star as he became the first player in history to win a premiership, Norm Smith and Brownlow Medal in the same season.</s>You are here: Football signboards</s>You'd think some of the AFL's most prestigious players would be given the royal treatment at the Grand Final Parade.

But as thousands of fans gather on the streets of Melbourne each year ahead of the decider, their football heroes are perched on fold-out wooden chairs.

The long-standing tradition of AFL stars sitting on the back seat of luxury convertibles seemingly went out the window in 2005 when the light-weight chairs were introduced for the Sydney Swans-West Coast Eagles Grand Final.

Every parade since, players have been seated in the back of utility trucks on the timber framed chairs - with the exception of 2009 and 2012 - when rain forced them to stay inside their vehicles.

This year, Richmond superstar and new Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin sat beside Tigers' captain Trent Cotchin.

The notoriously shy midfielder waved and gave thumbs-up signs to his legion of adoring fans.

'I'm a third-generation Richmond fan and it's just amazing to see them here,' she said, adding that the Tigers' grand final berth is particularly special.

'My dad passed away five years ago and he was the biggest fan so this means a lot to us. He'd be beside himself if he was here,' she said in tears.

Her family is planning a big party on Saturday and were hoping for a big win.

'Everyone loves the underdog and we are feeling like it's our year,' Ms Baird said.

Richmond supporter Simon Keeble is having the best week of his life.

Sure, the birth of his children and his wedding day were important too, but having his beloved Tigers reach the 2017 AFL grand final after a 37-year premiership drought is a milestone.

'I did say to my wife 'if we made the grand final, it would be the best week of my life,' he said on Friday.

He was one of thousands of fans to crowd Melbourne's CBD for the annual grand final parade, showing their allegiance by proudly wearing black and gold or the tri-colours of the Adelaide Crows.

'Adelaide have been the best team this year but there is something intangible happening with the Tigers,' Mr Keeble said.

The parade started near Parliament House at midday.

It's the third year a public holiday has been held on grand final eve after the Labor government introduced it in 2015.

The parade, which has been part of the game since 1977, ends near the MCG, where the Adelaide and Richmond teams will be presented on stage and the captains will raise the premiership cup.

Earlier, security was forced to close the gates at Punt Road Oval as a sea of yellow-and-black clad fans watched the Tigers' last training session before the decider.

The players started training at 9.45am and just 45 minutes later, the gates were already being locked at the club's spiritual home.

Fans cheered with a sort of glee that, for many in the crowd, had been a foreign feeling up until this grand-final week, as they belted out the club song with gusto.

The locked-out masses spilled into Yarra Park, sneaking a glimpse from behind the fence while peering over Portaloos.

Richmond's last grand final appearance was back in 1982 and their last premiership was in 1980.

They will go in as underdogs when they face the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon.

One betting agency has the Tigers at $2.15 to win the flag, while the Crows are at $1.73.
The Australian rules football club Richmond Football Club defeats the Adelaide Football Club in the 2017 AFL Grand Final by 108 points to 60. Dustin Martin won the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground after having won the 2017 Brownlow Medal for the best and fairest player in the competition.