- Rumors had been accumulating that Dustin Martin could come out of retirement
- The Richmond legend had been in talks to join Damien Hardwick at the Suns.
- Martin appeared at Richmond’s Best and Fairest Awards on Tuesday night.
Dustin Martin has poured cold water on claims he could come out of retirement and reunite with former Richmond boss Damien Hardwick on the Gold Coast during the Tigers’ best and fairest awards on Tuesday night.
There were emotional scenes when Martin, 33, hung up his boots at the end of the 2024 season, ending a brilliant 15-year career that saw him win three premierships with Richmond, three Norm Smith Medals and the Brownlow Medal for 2017.
However, in recent weeks, there had been speculation that the legendary midfielder could return to the AFL for a swan song, but not with the Tigers.
Rumors emerged that Martin could move north to join former coach Hardwick at the Gold Coast, and the Suns subsequently released a statement that Martin had spoken to the club.
“We can confirm that Dustin has had a conversation with the club and we will both engage in further discussions to determine if he is a good fit for the Gold Coast Suns and for Dustin,” Suns head of football Wayne Campbell said. The age in September.
Martin and Hardwick have a close relationship, with the Suns coach claiming the 33-year-old was the “best player he’s ever coached” following his retirement.
Retired Richmond star Dustin Martin has poured cold water on rumors he could move to the Gold Coast.
Speculation had arisen that he could join former Tigers coach Damien Hardwick.
The pair were instrumental in helping lead Richmond into their triple premiership dynasty.
Despite that, it appears the three-time flag winner will not be returning to the AFL.
During the Richmond Best and Fairest Awards at Crown Melbourne on Tuesday, Martin told 9News Melbourne, when asked about his retirement, that he was “happily retired”.
With the delisted free agency period taking place in the first two weeks of November, Martin still has a month to change his mind on his current stance.
Earlier this year, Hardwick had also fueled rumors that Martin could move to the Suns.
‘Dustin is a contracted player at Richmond. Obviously that’s something Dustin has to decide and Richmond has to work his way through,” he said during a press conference in March.
“He’s a really good player, there’s no doubt about that, and every club would be crazy not to sit there and at some point make an assessment.”
Martin said goodbye to the Tigers at the end of the season announcing that he would retire
But Martin has now claimed he is “happily retired” amid reports he could return to professional football.
Hardwick (right) had also admitted last year that the Suns could be interested in signing Martin
Martin has until the delisted free agency period in November to weigh up a sensational return to the AFL.
‘Like 17 other clubs, we are always looking for good players.
‘Gold Coast is no different. Those roster management calls will happen at the end of the year.
But his old friend, teammate and mentor, Trent Cotchin, gave his verdict on Martin’s chances of coming out of retirement.
“I think there’s a zero to one percent chance he’ll wear a Suns guernsey or any other guernsey,” Cotchin said.
“But, saying that, you can understand why people like Gold Coast and ‘Dimma’ (Hardwick) are teasing the idea that maybe it will happen.
“I don’t know why, and maybe you guys have different opinions about whether it helps your football club, but they’re not in the finals, they’re in the paper every day and that raises awareness about your football club.” ‘