Dustin Martin was back in action for the Tigers on Saturday against Geelong.Credit:Getty Images
Last year he finished equal fifth in Richmond’s best and fairest but his form before the injury wasn’t at the gold-plated level of 2017-20,when the three-time Norm Smith medallist and Brownlow winner was consistently a destructive force.
However,Hardwick said the expectation for Martin,who will turn 31 in June,was that he would be back to his dynamic best in a year when the Tigers hope to again challenge for the flag.
“It’s obviously a significant injury he is coming back from,” Hardwick said at the Fox Footy season launch on Wednesday.
“He had his first hitout really on the weekend. He was the first to admit in the first couple of contests he was a little bit nervous about what that would look like when he raised his arms. But he grew in confidence and got better as the game wore on.
“Our expectations should be the same – he is a match-winner,he is one of the best players in the competition,if not the best player in the competition. We just expect him to play his role,which is a silly thing to say,but that’s what we require of him.
“He works incredibly hard on every facet of his game. That’s why he is one of the best players in the league. I am looking forward to watching him play. I know most people are as well.”