Dustin Martin 'invested' as Richmond shut down AFL rumours
The AFL superstar's Richmond future is the topic of hot debate.
Richmond caretaker coach Andrew McQualter has moved to shut down growing speculation Dustin Martin could be set to follow Damien Hardwick out the Tigers exit door. Hardwick's shock mid-season departure rocked the AFL world, with Collingwood great Nathan Buckley insisting the veteran coach's departure left "everything up for grabs" at Richmond - including their most prized asset.
Hardwick and Martin both started their careers together at Richmond after debuting as coach and player in round one of the 2010 AFL season. Both men were integral to the era of dominance at Richmond that saw the Tigers claim three premierships between 2017 and 2020, with Martin becoming the first man to win three Norm Smith Medals.
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With Hardwick and Martin's careers at Richmond so closely intertwined, Hawthorn's four-time premiership star Jordan Lewis was among those to suggest that the coach's bombshell exit will ultimately see Richmond's four-time All-Australian follow him out the door. “I think he’ll play elsewhere … Interstate, either Sydney or Queensland," Lewis said.
Martin's contract at Richmond - like Hardwick's before he stepped down - is set to run out at the end of the 2024 season. SEN's Tom Morris said after showing interest in Martin last year, Gold Coast could come back in for the four-time All-Australian, having freed up salary cap pressure by trading Jack Bowes to Geelong. Hardwick has also been linked to the Suns coaching post, making it an even more curious scenario.
'Dusty' was at the centre of intense speculation that we was set to leave Richmond in 2022, with the Sydney Swans also listed alongside Gold Coast as his most likely destinations. The Swans denied speaking with Martin about the blockbuster move and Hardwick staunchly defended his superstar, following widespread reports that Martin wanted out of Melbourne, after taking an extended break from footy in the wake of his father's death.
While Martin ultimately re-committed to the club on that occasion, there's a sense in AFL circles that things could change this year due to Hardwick's decision. Responding to the latest speculation on Friday, McQualter insists Martin remains fully committed to staying with the club, and that speculation around his future is nothing new at this time of year.
Richmond caretaker coach shuts down Dustin Martin talk
“It‘s almost been three years in a row. We’re about the same time of the year where the chat about Dustin comes,” the caretaker Tigers coach said on Friday. “Dustin’s in a terrific spot at the moment.
"He’s as invested as you could ever imagine in our footy club. He’s happy, he’s having a great time playing footy and he’s playing great footy for us as well.”
The Tigers will be hoping to avoid three straight defeats when they take on the GWS Giants in Sydney on Sunday. Exciting young forward Noah Cumberland has been recalled to the extended squad and could feature after copping a bake from Hardwick about his work rate, before the former Richmond coach's departure.
“We know his ability to win the contest and to score, but he‘s just looking to improve as a young kid still in terms of footy in the amount that he’s played," McQualter said about Cumberland. “So we have seen a spike from him and we’ll look to keep improving that for the rest of the year.”
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