Martin’s influence looms large in Friday night’s vital AFL game between the clubs at Adelaide Oval, with the Tiger star in the midst of a stunning patch of form.

Martin has had less than 20 disposals in a game just once this season – and in the past four games has collected 38, 22, 38 and 35 possessions.

“He’s an incredible player,” Port midfielder Ollie Wines said of Martin.

“In the last five weeks he’s dominating it.

“He’s a great player inside the contest but he’s also really high for handball receives on the outside.

“So you just can’t watch him on the inside, you have got to watch when the stoppage clears and when the ball clears, he’s really good, he gets on his bike and gets used.

“They like to put the ball in his hands, along with Trent Cotchin, because they are great users. And I think it’s what good teams do – they give the ball to their good players and users and Richmond do that with Dustin and Trent Cotchin.”

Port and Richmond both have six wins and seven losses this season and sit two wins outside the top eight, meaning the loser of Friday night’s fixture will have ever slimmer chances of making the finals.

Martin’s hot form has seen him mentioned as a genuine rival to Geelong – and former Crows – superstar Patrick Dangerfield in Brownlow speculation. But he has remained largely unaffected by the hype, according to teammate Brandon Ellis.

“It’s not spoken about around the club at all,” Ellis said of the hype around Martin’s form.

“It’s always in the papers and you see it on social media, but he doesn’t take any notice of that at all.

“[But] he’s been in awesome form this year, hasn’t he? He’s just taken his game to a new level. He’s a lot fitter than what he has been … I think that’s why he’s playing the footy that he’s been playing.”

Friday’s high-stakes contest at Adelaide Oval promises to be another chapter in a growing rivalry between the clubs.

“What they did to us in the final … we didn’t really like that,” Ellis said, referring to his side’s humbling elimination final loss to Port at the same venue in 2014.

“And we’ve got a lot of coaches at Richmond who played for Port Adelaide … there’s a lot of history between the two clubs. It’s going to be a good contest.

“There’s been a bit of niggle every time we’ve played them, but that’s footy.”

Meanwhile, star Richmond recruit Chris Yarran has returned to the club after a month-long lay-off to deal with a mental health issue.

The running defender has not played a game for the Tigers after being brought in from Carlton in exchange for draft pick No.19 on a three-year deal at the end of last season.

Yarran has struggled with a calf injury this year and also underwent foot surgery.

The 25-year-old took time off in his hometown of Perth in May to deal with a family issue before seeking mental health treatment.

“After consultation with medical staff, we have agreed that Chris is ready to return to the club, and he has commenced training this week,” Richmond football general manager Dan Richardson told the club’s website.

“We will continue to provide him every support he needs to manage his condition.

“No timeline has been put on his return to playing football.”

-AAP