Unlike renowned recluse Dustin Martin, Richmond coach Adem Yze isn't shying away from the magnitude of the Tiger idol's looming 300th AFL game.
Martin will play his milestone match against Hawthorn at the MCG on June 15.
A triple premiership hero and the only footballer to win three Norm Smith medals as best-afield in a grand final, Martin was rested from Richmond's stunning upset win in Adelaide on Thursday night.
The unfancied Tigers produced a barnstorming six-goal third term to set up an eight-point win over the Crows, 12.7 (79) to 10.11 (71).
Martin was ill mid-week but would have been rested anyway to ensure his 300th game is at the MCG before an adoring Tiger army.
"We did win, so he might have to come back through the VFL," Yze said post-match.
"Nah, but in all seriousness it's a massive week for our club and it's one that we want to celebrate one of our greatest players.
"We do that really well at our footy club ... celebrate our people. And this is an opportunity to celebrate one of our best.
"We will obviously have an amazing week leading up to it.
"Our players will want to play well for him and make it a big occasion for him.
"So yeah, we're not going to shy away from the fact that we want it to be a big spectacle and we want to obviously play well for him."
Yze's second win as Richmond coach was largely unexpected by the wider football community, but not by him.
The first-year coach entered the game with a sense that his players, despite having one prior win and being on an eight-game losing streak, were on the verge.
"It does obviously put just a nice feeling on what we've been training and implementing," he said.
"Just to get some reward for effort - the last three weeks since the Brisbane game (a 119 point loss) we feel like we're turning the corner.
"We have got 100,000 members who expect us to play well every week, we have got a big Tiger army that follow us through thick and thin.
"So we do have a lot to play for, irrelevant of how many wins we've had for the season.
"It's good for our players to understand that. And they do understand that, that is part of our DNA."
