The AFL grand final moved to the Gabba in Brisbane in 2020, where Dustin Martin won his third Norm Smith Medal to stamp his greatness. On the eve of that game, former Richmond skipper Wayne Campbell penned this piece for our readers: The memory is still vivid. I was sitting in the Graeme Richmond room at the Richmond Football Club as Francis Jackson, the club’s national recruiting manager, took the coaches through the draftees his team had selected in the previous week’s 2009 national draft.
He had selected Dustin Martin, from Castlemaine, with pick three. It's always an optimistic time for recruiters, but Francis seemed particularly pleased with himself this year. Dustin Martin, who impressed coaches immediately at Richmond, in 2010.
Credit: Craig Sillitoe He made three points: Richmond's draftees in 2009, from left to right: Jeromey Webberley, Troy Taylor, Martin, David Astbury, Ben Griffiths, Ben Nason and Matt Dea. Credit: Sebastian Costanzo He thought Dustin was the best player in the draft (they always do!); He was unique player, in that he was an inside mid, who unlike a few going around the league who played inside the contest, was also a beautiful kick, and; He probably wouldn't captain the club. The first two have proved to be absolutely true but it was the third descriptor that I remember generating the most discussion at the time.
Leadership is always high on the list of attributes when ranking players, so for Frank to be so candid was interesting. "Why is tha.