On the morning the triple-premiership player told his Cats teammates he would be bowing out at season's end, Martin stunned the AFL world on Tuesday after announcing his retirement effective immediately via a club statement.
Across a career stretching 15 years, three premierships, three Norm Smith Medals and a Brownlow Medal, the 33-year-old will go down in history as possibly the greatest Tiger.
And just as legendary forward Lance Franklin did last year, the famously media-shy Martin hung up his boots without a farewell press conference and a farewell game.
Hawkins, who will retire at the end of the Cats' campaign after becoming the club's games-record holder, paid tribute to his peer.
"I'd sort of had the wheels in motion (for retirement) on the day for a bit," Hawkins, fronting his farewell media conference, said.
"But it feels somewhat, not embarrassed, but maybe it's a pleasure to share it with him because you talk about champions of the game and he is absolutely one of those.
"He's had an incredible career.Â
"Congratulations to Dusty and his family for what he's been able to achieve ... I was gonna say it's been fun to watch but, phew, it hasn't been fun to watch at times."
Dustin Martin tries to break a Tom Hawkins tackle during a 2015 clash at the MCG. (Joe Castro/AAP PHOTOS)
Drafted at pick No.3 in the 2009 AFL draft, Martin debuted in round one, 2010 and went on to kick 338 goals across 302 games.
He won club best-and-fairests in 2016 and 2017 and was named All-Australian in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020.
Heralded as the greatest finals player of all time, Martin is also the only player to be crowned best-on-ground in an AFL grand final three times (2017, 2019, 2020).
Collingwood coach Craig McRae, a former Richmond assistant under then-coach Damien Hardwick, reflected fondly on his years with the powerful goalkicking midfielder.
"I worked with Dusty for a number of years. What a remarkable player. What a player, huh?" McRae said.
"The memories of grand-finals wins and him single-handedly lifting Richmond over the line up at the Gabba (in 2020) - that game stands out for me - but what an incredible career he had.
"What an incredible young man too - very, very isolated, very quiet.
"My memories of Dusty is he'd probably have 100 words to use in the day and he probably wouldn't use them all up."
AFL chief Andrew Dillon echoed McRae's sentiments.
"As a quiet champion, he preferred to let his actions on the field speak for him, and his actions shout that he has been one of the greatest to have ever played our game," Dillon said.
"He inspired his teammates countless times with moments that could barely be believed, and carried the Tiger army along to a period of unrivalled success that had eluded the club for more than three decades."
Sydney coach John Longmire also paid tribute to Martin - and his haircut.
A barber hands out Dustin Martin style haircuts to fans after the Tigers' 2019 grand-final win. (David Crosling/AAP PHOTOS)
"He set a new trend in hairstyles amongst a lot of kids out there," Longmire said.
"The amount of times you go to a game and see the Dusty Martin hairstyle is the outcome of the impact he's had on the game and its supporters.
"He's been a real key component to what Richmond were able to do for a long time."
Fans will have a chance to say goodbye to Martin on August 23 at their round-24 home fixture against Gold Coast, who are coached by his former mentor Hardwick.
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