Every year at every AFL club,a player will start the season not knowing they are about to leave the game. Few get to leave the sport in control of their exit. The likes of Shane Crawford and Joel Selwood are the exceptions to the norm.
Skipper Toby Nankervis has been ruled out and superstar Dustin Martin remains in serious doubt for Richmond’s opening-round clash with Gold Coast. Meanwhile,the Roos are uncertain when skipper Jy Simpkin will return after concussion.
The AFL wants clubs to throw open their doors so that superstars are more accessible to fans via the media. In the case of superstar Dustin Martin,it’s unlikely to make much difference.
Richmond star Tom Lynch is in a race to be fit for round one,as coach Adem Yze said Dustin Martin faced a “big decision”. Meanwhile,Essendon midfielder Dylan Shiel won’t be on track until February.
As he prepares to launch his memoir,Richmond great Jack Riewoldt reflects on his time at Punt Road,a magical journey featuring premierships,drama,Dustin Martin and Ben Cousins.
Max Gawn’s draft interview in 2009 stood out from the pack for its candour and flashes of humour. In a new interview,the premiership skipper looks back at that scruffy teenager.
Dustin Martin told the Gold Coast Suns of his desire to remain at Punt Road next year after meeting Suns coach Damien Hardwick and football boss Wayne Campbell.
Dustin Martin is on Queensland’s sunny Gold Coast,confirmed by Gold Coast Suns sources. They wouldn’t,however,comment whether anyone from the club was planning to catch up with him.
The Giants captain has continued his rise to a leader in the competition with the prestigious honour. Collingwood’s Daicos brothers were also named in the 2023 side.
The Blues forward doesn’t have a serious ACL injury,but he will still require knee surgery that will sideline him for up to two months,meaning he needs his team to make the finals if he’s to play again this season.
A positional rejig has given Dustin Martin more freedom to express himself,and the Tigers have been the beneficiaries,as they prepare to head to Brisbane to continue what had seemed an unlikely finals push.