DAMIEN Hardwick was unimpressed with Dustin Martin's 39-disposal haul against Hawthorn, saying the star on-baller had handballed too much instead of taking more attacking options.

Martin's possession tally was the highest of any player in the Hawks' 70-point win at the MCG on Sunday and continued a prolific run in which the 25-year-old has racked up at least 30 possessions in eight of his past nine games.

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That form has catapulted Martin into Brownlow Medal contention, with many now seeing him as the main challenger to Geelong midfielder Patrick Dangerfield.

But Hardwick had a simple answer when asked on Sunday night whether Martin could win the Brownlow.

"Not on today's game. I didn't think he was that good today," Hardwick said.

"The Brownlow to me is irrelevant. Wins and losses matter to me. (It's) probably an event I'm required to go to, but it's not high on my agenda I'll give you the tip." 

Asked to expand on his appraisal of Martin's performance, Hardwick had no complaints about the on-baller's ability to win the ball but questioned his decision-making when he had it.

Five talking points: Hawthorn v Richmond

"I just thought he handballed too much early, put ourselves under pressure," Hardwick said.

"Don't get me wrong, his ability to win the ball is outstanding. I think sometimes he can probably (look to) take a little bit of territory instead of trying to distribute the ball.

"Once again, sides are coming after him. They know he's going to win that hard ball, but it was probably today not to his usual standard."

The Tigers were within 17 points of the Hawks late in the third quarter on a chilly and blustery day when both teams struggled to convert in front of goal. 

However, goals to Jack Gunston and Cyril Rioli made the margin 29 points at three-quarter time. The Hawks then blew the Tigers off the MCG with a nine-goal-to-two final quarter.

Hardwick felt the Hawks kept his side at arm's length for most of the game with their edge in class, but the Tigers coach labelled his team's defensive efforts in the dying minutes of the game "shameful".

"For us to finish off that last six minutes I was incredibly disappointed in us as a side," he said.

"We'll sit down and we'll watch it because the fact of the matter is you can lose the game, but to let the game go as we did in the last six minutes I thought our defensive efforts were nothing short of shameful really."

Richmond defender Dylan Grimes went off the ground in the third quarter of Sunday's game with hamstring tightness and did not return to the field.

Hardwick said the Tigers were unsure whether Grimes' injury was back-related but were optimistic it was not significant.

"He had some tightness so we'll wait and see. If it was anyone else we would have sent them back on to play but obviously with Dylan's history we take a conservative approach," Hardwick said.

"We think he'll be OK but scans will confirm that later in the week."