No player has ever won the Brownlow, Norm Smith and flag in the same season.

It seems strange now, to no one less than Martin himself, that he so seriously contemplated leaving for North Melbourne.

The moment he confirmed his recommitment stands as the moment Richmond's finals campaign took on an unwavering trajectory, Dylan Grimes said.

Richmond paid millions for Martin. As it goes, they got him cheap. Since he signed he, and they, have won everything: a prelim final, a Brownlow, a premiership, a Norm Smith. What is left to say, there's nothing else to do?

Martin is a man of few words at the best of times and this was not a moment to break with brevity. He accepted the medal from James Hird (whose appearance on stage was only a brief distraction for those urgently wanting to cheer or jeer) and he knew there was precious more he could add after a week of being feted.

"Yellow and black!!" he screeched with a double fist pump.

Bachar Houli had a claim on the medal, so too Alex Rance. Against a team with what has been the most complete forward line in the competition the pair of Rance and Houli led the Tigers in rendering the Crows impotent.

Yet Martin was the right winner. This was a territory battle not a defensive block and Martin won territory more than any other. His contested possessions tell the tale. He had 29 touches for the day and 22 were contested. Twenty two! Only Simon Black with 25 in 2003 has had more contested possessions in a grand final.

Every time he had a touch he had a player on him or trying to get to him. As ever he brooked no argument. He was tackled and caught twice but was still not contained. One time he just waved his hand at an approaching Crow. More don't bother than don't argue.

"He's incredible isn't he? He is just so hard to stop," Damien Hardwick said smiling paternally.

This was the season of moons aligning. Trent Cotchin might have been suspended three times and wasn't. Martin might have been suspended - and therefore like Patrick Dangerfield missed the Brownlow - but wasn't. He might also have been a North Melbourne player next week, but won't be. He might have once been a Giants player, now he is a Richmond premiership player.

Martin's mum, Kathy, sensed his destiny in the season. In the rooms afterwards with other family members she hugged her son, undeterred by his chastising of her on Brownlow night for talking to the media.

"I knew he would win that Brownlow Medal, I predicted it before the season even started. I knew he would get the Norm Smith Medal as well because he has won everything else," Kathy said.

Indeed he has. After winning the Brownlow a query hangs over any winner playing in a grand final of whether it would be a burden on the day. Martin instead as ever found sanctuary on the MCG.

"The two hours when you play footy is freedom, you don't have to worry about anything. You go out there and just play and that's what I love doing," he said.

"I just go out there and play that's what I have done since I was a young bloke."

He now planned to celebrate. How? He was asked. "With a few of these," he said holding up the sponsor's product.

Hardwick chipped in: "I saw Swanny just keep away from him." Martin will not be the only Richmond person to wake up Sunday morning Dusty.

Of course a celebration for many players is now achieved with a tattoo. For Martin the only question was which part of his body was left to ink in. His left leg as it goes. Damien Hardwick was not persuaded to join him.

Martin wanted to thank everyone but feared leaving some out so singled out none. He chatted to his dad after the game while on radio.

Grimes said Martin remaining at Richmond gave the finals a sense of the inexorable but it was the manner in which he played that illustrated why there was the sense of unified purpose of the group.

"The thing I like about our group most is that we are just a bunch of scrappers and fighters and blokes who show real heart. And even Dusty who is the best player in the comp this year, even he is prepared to chase and tackle and do the things we saw today.

"When you have your leaders doing that sort of thing a player like Jacky Graham coming in in his fifth game knows the template to keep his spot and how to play a good game."

Richmond paid handsomely to keep Martin. It now looks a very pretty figure.

Dan Richardson, who with Neil Balme as football heads helped complete the deal, observed as he wiped champagne from his face: "It's complete now isn't it?" Indeed it is.

NORM SMITH MEDAL VOTING:

5 judges voted 3 2 1

13 D Martin 33331
10 B Houli 32221
2 A Rance 2
2 S Edwards 2
2 D Prestia 11
1 J Graham 1