REPEATING his ridiculous feats of 2017 was always going to be a huge ask for Dustin Martin.
When you've set the bar as high as he did in his all-conquering, premiership-winning season, scaling it – or even reaching it again – presented as a massive challenge.
His 2018 season might not have been as startling, nor does he head into the finals as an unbackable favourite for the Brownlow Medal as he did 12 months ago.
But the statistics actually say he's been just as damaging as he was in 2017, despite not being as noticeable or prolific when it comes to the big numbers.
Last year, Martin averaged nearly 30 disposals a game, 14.5 of which were contested. This year, that's dropped to 25.5 and 11.8.
But, he's actually been just as effective on the scoreboard as he was last season, despite winning less of the ball.
There is a -0.1 difference in the goals he's kicked – he booted 30 this season compared to 32 before the first final last year – and has recorded a -0.4 difference in score involvements.
He's also actually slightly increased the number of scoring assists he's dished off.
So, he's been just as damaging in attack with less possessions than he was last year, although he has spent slightly more time in the forward 50.
What has dropped off dramatically is how much time he's spent in their defensive 50. In 2017, Martin won 5.8 per cent of his overall disposals close to their defensive goal.
This year, he's won just 0.9 per cent.
Perhaps this is caused by the fact the Tigers are the leading intercept team in the competition and they don't need him getting in the action deep in defence.
Or, quite simply, why would you want a player with his brute force ability to score so far away from the business end of the ground?
There's no doubting his year started slowly. The Tigers have admitted as such, with coach Damien Hardwick suggesting Martin struggled at times to deal with his own expectations of himself.
It makes sense; how does any player top the kind of season that resulted in his huge seven-year contract extension and increase in off-field endorsements like his lucrative Bonds deal?
And, how do they cope when it doesn't happen?
Still, Martin and Patrick Dangerfield are the only players in the competition to average at least 25 disposals, one goal and 1.5 score assists this season; a feat that has only happened 11 times since 2001.
In the second half of the season something has clicked for Martin. He missed round 12 with a sore calf and spent the weekend with his dad Shane in New Zealand, which could have freshened up his mentality.
He swore off alcohol in July and has reportedly held that mantra since.
He could potentially poll votes in six games after the Tigers' round 14 bye, which could make the final rounds of the Brownlow Medal count a thrilling event.
And, his recent form has Hardwick bullish about his chances of tearing the finals apart.
"He's certainly primed. I'm doing enough drinking for the both of us at the moment," Hardwick said.
"His footy's starting to become what it is, what we know it can be.
"He put an incredibly high expectation on himself, the season he had last year, I'd never seen a better season.
"Can you live up to that? It's going to be tough.
"But now he's playing the consistent brand of footy that we know and love and is incredibly damaging because of it."
