AFL greats predict Dustin Martin will leave Richmond after Damien Hardwick’s shock departure, and another big-name Tiger may be following him out of Punt Road.
Following the shocking resignation of coach Damien Hardwick last week, leading AFL commentators believe Dustin Martin might be the next to leave Richmond, with the Gold Coast Suns in the box seat.
Last year, there was conjecture that the three-time premiership winner would leave the Tigers to escape the Melbourne bubble following the death of his father, Shane Martin.
Martin’s strong friendship with Hardwick would have been a crucial part of his choice to remain at Punt Road, but with the champion coach no longer in the top job, Martin might again consider a
Hardwick expressed a diminishing interest in his position and ascribed his mental tiredness to his 14-season career at Punt Road. Under his guidance, the Tigers transformed from an underachieving AFL team to a three-time premiership-winning juggernaut.
However, over the last two seasons, the Tigers have slipped from their traditionally dominant position. They narrowly made the top eight last year and have struggled to compete in 2023.
Lewis stated on radio station RSN that Martin is likely to play elsewhere, either in Sydney or Queensland.
AFL commentator and former Port Adelaide midfielder Kane Cornes believes Martin’s departure might be mutually beneficial.
‘Yes, but it’s his decision. I don’t think it’s Richmond’s decision,” Cornes remarked on SEN.
‘If he goes to the club and says, ‘This is what I want to do,’ it would be similar to Damien Hardwick and Richmond’s ability to let him stand down.
Martin’s contributions to the club will make him a legend in the Hall of Fame. He travels with their blessing.
According to Cornes, trading all picks would free up a significant amount of the team’s salary limit, even if they paid Dustin Martin’s contract.
‘He is not at his best. He has performed admirably and consistently. And for the first three quarters [against Port Adelaide on Sunday], I felt he was going to win them the game, but then you don’t see him in the fourth quarter.
According to Cornes, trading all picks would free up a significant amount of the team’s salary limit, even if they paid Dustin Martin’s contract.
‘He is not at his best. He has performed admirably and consistently. And for the first three quarters [against Port Adelaide on Sunday], I felt he was going to win them the game, but then you don’t see him in the fourth quarter.
Former Magpies champion player and coach Nathan Buckley feels Hardwick’s resignation may set off a chain reaction at the Tigers, making players like Martin suddenly available.
He feels that not only Martin will leave, but champion Jack Riewoldt may also contemplate leaving or retiring.
‘One thing I would say is that if a veteran like Damien Hardwick decides to step down, everything is open for grabs,’ Buckley told SEN.
‘What it was isn’t what it will be since there will be a shift in perspective, philosophy, or direction.
So Dustin Martin might wind up wherever he wants.
He believes the Gold Coast is the most plausible choice, considering their previous attempts to sign Martin and their distance from the Melbourne bubble.
The Gold Coast’s pay cap is no longer as problematic as it was a year ago, thanks in part to the trade of Jack Bowes to Geelong. I am not saying they have a lot of space, but
‘The appeal of living in Sydney or the Gold Coast is real at some point in the future, whether soon or after he retires. The Tigers will try to get back into the first round of the draft; their current first pick is number 23.
The Gold Coast, which has a reasonably decent list, is likely to raise the question again. According to one list manager I spoke with a few days ago, the Suns could consider giving up a top-10 selection for Dusty, which he’s definitely no longer worth, but Richmond would cover a substantial portion of his salary next year.
