- Martin’s manager makes cryptic comment on social media
- Football greats have urged the Tigers champion to resign
- The 32-year-old star fights to regain form in 2024
Dustin Martin’s manager Ralph Carr has released an unusual statement on social media as speculation continues to grow over the Richmond champion’s future in the sport.
Martin, 32, remains one of the AFL’s biggest names, having claimed the Norm Smith Medal in all three of Richmond’s premiership wins in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
The midfielder also won the Brownlow Medal in 2017 and has made 296 appearances.
But Martin’s future has been the subject of intense speculation in recent months as he has battled injury and some experts, such as Kane Cornes, believe he should hang up his boots.
“I just think it’s time for him to have nothing left to accomplish,” Cornes said.
Speculation surrounding Tigers champion Dustin Martin (pictured) leaving the game continues to grow as he struggles to play like he used to this year.
Martin’s manager Ralph Carr (pictured with the Tigers) posted an unusual message on social media on Wednesday saying his client will “always be the people’s champion.”
“And the way the club is, they are about to go through a brutal period,” he would have thought.
“Does Dustin Martin want to go through that and then have questions about his form, like he becomes like Buddy Franklin when he played probably another year?” [than he maybe should have]? Like Scott Pendlebury now faces to a lesser extent.
“You’re about to turn 33. Do you want to go through this in Richmond?”
On Wednesday, Martin’s former manager posted an unusual message on X about his client.
“He will always be the people’s champion,” he wrote alongside a photo of Martín.
“Three flags, three Norm Smiths, a Brownlow, All-Australian, MVP, they can’t be wrong.”
Martin’s future was discussed on Channel 9’s Footy Classified this week and Cornes questioned Richmond coach Adam Yze’s comments that he wants to extend Martin’s contract, which expires at the end of this season.
“Football clubs are not a charity,” Cornes began.
Martin has struggled for form in 2024 and some football greats believe he should retire soon
The Tigers currently sit 17th in the AFL standings with just one win this season.
‘(Yze) has been quite inflexible, he has said a couple of times that one of the jobs he wants to do is extend Dustin Martin’s contract.
‘Is that the right decision?’
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd responded first, questioning the money Martin could earn playing until 2025.
“Adem Yze has to be stronger than ever about what is best for Richmond,” he said.
“And I’m not sure spending $750,000 on Dustin Martin is the best thing for Richmond.”
AFL journalist Caroline Wilson weighed in at the mention of this figure.
“There’s no way they’re spending that money on Dustin Martin,” he said.
‘$500 (thousand) absolute maximum. At the moment he is limping close to 300 (games). I’m sure he wouldn’t get more than that if he played like he does now.
“He’s limping toward 300 and the way he’s playing right now, you probably wouldn’t offer him another deal.”