A bit more on the Dusty story from Dermy.
Five-time premiership winner Dermott Brereton is less enthused than Blight about Martin’s possibilities this year.
Always honest with his thoughts, Brereton said: “Through that premiership era, the expectancy was he could rise to another level and he did it. And it’s not going to be that anymore. He will win the odd game, but time doesn’t wait for anyone.’’
Brereton, with a failing body from about 26-years-old, knows about playing with pride. It is a motivator, but it’s also a reality check.
Dustin Martin with the 2020 premiership trophy. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
“It’s funny when that balloon of pride gets pricked, when people start to see that you’re on the wane and you try to claw on to a status you previously held, and you try to do everything possible to stay there. But a lot of blokes play angry when they are old,” Brereton said.
“If Dustin is seriously fit, what do I expect from him? Not as much as his dominant years, but there will be moments where he wins the game.’’
He sees Martin being managed this year, so he’s cherry ripe for September, and suspects he will be a roaming forward, and not the stay-at-home deep forward, and nor will he be a dominant forward.
“There’s a misnomer, and every year it is said, ‘oh when Carey finishes playing centre half-forward, he will go to full-forward and kick 100 goals, when the great Gary Ablett Jr finishes on the ball, he will kick 80 for the year as a forward … it never happens,’’ Brereton said
“I don’t think the Tigers can make him the No. 1 forward when you’ve got Tom Lynch and still Jack Riewoldt there. You can’t make Dusty your No. 1 go-to who will kick 60-70 goals. He can kick you 30 or 40 with mismatches but you can’t play him as your king pin up forward because he doesn’t mark overhead, he doesn’t get high off the ground.
