Richmond’s 2021 season-opener against Carlton at the MCG marks 10 years since Tigers superstar Dustin Martin first wore the Club’s famous No. 4 guernsey in a match.

Martin lined up for the Round 1, 2011 clash with the Blues at the ‘G’ wearing the number that had been worn in every Richmond AFL/VFL premiership to that point – four of them by Tiger ‘Immortal’ Royce Hart.

After donning the No. 36 guernsey in his 2010 debut season with the Tigers, Dusty was presented with the No. 4 by another Club Immortal, four-time Richmond premiership coach Tommy Hafey, in a special ceremony at Punt Road.

Another talented Tiger cub at the time, David Astbury, received the No. 12 guernsey from its legendary previous owner, Matthew Richardson. Astbury had worn No. 39 in his 2010 debut season.

Here is then Herald Sun chief football writer Mike Sheahan’s article on Dusty’s ascension to the revered No. 4 at Tigerland.

“Fortunately for Richmond, Dustin Martin is a young man with a body and temperament beyond his years.

The club yesterday ordained the imposing teenager the face of its future, giving him the most famous yellow and black jumper of the post-Jack Dyer era.

Martin, 19, will wear the No. 4 guernsey worn not only by the great Royce Hart, but the only number carried in all 10 of the club's AFL premierships from 1920-80.

And the Tigers enlisted four-time premiership coach Tom Hafey to make the presentation at Punt Rd at the launch of “The Tiger is Stirring” membership campaign.

Not only did Hafey declare himself a Martin fan, he said Ray Byrne – regional manager of Martin's junior club, the Bendigo Pioneers, and a former Carlton, Collingwood and Geelong player – told him earlier in the day Martin would be a best-and-fairest winner and captain at Richmond.

It just so happens midfielder Martin, at 187cm and 86kg, is exactly the same dimensions as Hart at the peak of his powers as the game’s pre-eminent centre half-forward in the late 1960s and early ‘70s.

Wow, does this kid have a load to carry for someone with 21 games to his name.

David Astbury, another 19-year-old, was given the No. 12 guernsey worn most recently by Matthew Richardson and previously by another Richmond legend, Jack “Skinny” Titus, who kicked more goals (970) than even Richo (800).

Both boys were suitably humbled in front of teammates and coaches. Ironically, Astbury sees himself as a defender in the Nathan Bock mould rather than a future Richo.

Martin told compere and former player Nathan Brown: “Hopefully I can keep the tradition going and be the next No. 4 to win the premiership.”