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AFL world left rattled after Tom Hawkins joins Dustin Martin with double retirement bombshell

Two greats of the game are calling it quits - one with immediate effect.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·7-min read

The AFL has been rocked by the retirements of Dustin Martin and Tom Hawkins within the space of an hour, with Martin hanging up the boots immediately and Hawkins set to bow out at the end of the season. Martin ended months of rumours and speculation about his future in the game on Tuesday morning, announcing he's retiring with immediate effect.

Rumours have been rife that the 33-year-old would join the Gold Coast Suns in 2025, but Martin announced on Tuesday that he's done. Rather than play on until the end of the season, Martin is walking away effective immediately. He is one of the greatest players of the modern era, winning three premierships and three Norm Smith Medals with the Richmond Tigers, along with the Brownlow Medal in 2017.

Tom Hawkins and Dustin Martin.
Dustin Martin (R) is walking away from the AFL effective immediately, while Tom Hawkins (L) will retire at the end of 2024. Image: Getty

He played 302 games and kicked 338 goals across a storied career, but has been restricted to just 13 appearances this year because of injuries. “It is hard to put into words what the Richmond Football Club means to me, I love this place so much," Martin said in a statement released by the club.

“I will be forever grateful for the love and the support I have received from the people here. To my teammates, the brotherhood that we all share is what I value most as well as the bond with the staff and coaches… thank you to all of you.

“To my family and friends thank you for your unconditional love and support. To the Tiger Army, I have always felt so loved and supported throughout my career and for that I will be forever grateful. The memories that we have created together will live with me forever. Thank you.”

Dustin Martin after the 2020 AFL grand final.
Dustin Martin (centre) with Richmond teammates after the 2020 premiership triumph with Richmond. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Less than an hour later, Hawkins announced he'll hang up the boots at the end of 2024. The 36-year-old has been sidelined with a foot injury since round 15, but is still holding out hope of making a return and playing a role in Geelong's premiership push.

Hawkins has played 359 games for the Cats, breaking great mate Joel Selwood's games record in Geelong's round-11 game against GWS in May. "Tom has been an incredible presence both on and off the field at Geelong for the past 18 years, with his ability to play consistently at an elite level, along with humility and care for his teammates, trademarks of his career," Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie said.

"He is a generational player who will rightly be celebrated for his achievements on field, as well as the role he has played shaping our club into what it is today. We thank Tom, his wife Emma, and their children Arabella, Primrose and Henry for all they've given our club." Hawkins won premierships with Geelong in 2009, 2011 and 2022 and has kicked 796 goals, the 13th most in VFL/AFL history.

Tom Hawkins during a Geelong Cats game.
Tom Hawkins has been out with a foot injury since Round 15. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said Martin's biggest impact was the "joy" he gave fans. "Three premierships and best on ground in each of them will always be his legend, and rightly, it, along with his unique aura, will be what he is best remembered for," Gale said.

"But I think Dustin would be most proud of what he was able to achieve playing for a team… for our team - and the magnificent role he was able to play within that system, which let him be every bit the footballing genius that he was always destined to be.

"That genius was most evident when the stakes were at their highest, when the crowd was at its loudest, when all eyes were on him, and when the moments needed a hero. Dustin did it his way, and we are all just so lucky to have been Richmond people during his era of dominance."

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Tigers coach Adam Yze had admitted he didn't know if Martin would see out the season after their loss to North Melbourne last weekend left them dead last on the ladder. “We’re in constant dialogue about how his body is feeling and how he’s going to finish off the season,” Yze said. "(We are) always in ongoing talks (about Martin’s future). It was great to have him back today for some of our younger players to play beside him.

“There were some of the old Dusty moves today and he was a bit frustrated that he couldn’t finish off some of his work. He has had an interrupted couple of months so he got a little bit tired by the end."

Before his return last week, Martin hadn't played in over a month due to a back issue. Claims emerged that he'd "checked out" of Richmond and their flagging season after he flew to New Zealand to see family and played golf while injured.

Dustin Martin, pictured here after his 300th game at the MCG.
Dustin Martin was chaired off the field in emotional scenes at the MCG after his 300th game. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Sam McClure said on 'Footy Classified' on Channel 9: "There is frustration building internally with how the last few weeks has played (out) with Dustin Martin." McClure claimed Richmond "didn't know" Martin played golf two weeks ago - a questionable move considering his dodgy back.

"Richmond would like for him to play at least one more time, a farewell game," McClure said. "He won't play at Punt Road beyond this season. Clearly, with his lack of training and lack of coming to the club in the last weeks, he has, to some degree, checked out of that part of his career."

Martin did end up playing his farewell game against North Melbourne, but some suggested he should have called it quits after his 300th game at the MCG earlier this year. "I don't know if they need another game, because he's already had such an amazing farewell against Hawthorn," Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said previously. "What a time that would have been, when he waved to everyone (at the MCG)."