AFL great Paul Roos has urged the Gold Coast Suns to call off their pursuit of retired Richmond champion Dustin Martin because it “sends the wrong message”.
The AFL legend is in talks with the Gold Coast Suns about resuming his playing career with his former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.
Martin, who retired last month, could join the Suns as an unrestricted free agent.
There has been frequent speculation that the 33-year-old could end his career in Queensland, where he could reunite with Hardwick.
The couple has reportedly reunited since the end of the Home and Away season.
They were key figures in Richmond’s golden era, with Martin, a three-time Norm Smith medallist, shining at the Hardwick-coached 2017, 2019 and 2020 championships.
“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,” Hardwick said.
‘Like 17 other clubs, we are always looking for good players.
“Gold Coast is no different. Decisions on roster management will be made later in the year.”
Dustin Martin has retired from the AFL after a legendary career with the Richmond Tigers, where he won three championships.
The Gold Coast Suns (coach Damien Hardwick, pictured) have met with Martin in an attempt to lure him out of retirement.
But while many Queenslanders are excited at the prospect of Martin lacing up his boots for one last hurrah, former Sydney Swans and Melbourne coach Paul Roos is not one of them.
Roos guided the Swans to the Premier League in 2005 after implementing the club’s famous “no idiots” recruitment policy.
And he is now urging Gold Coast to reconsider its approach to Martin and allow him to remain retired.
“Ride into the sunset, that’s what I’m saying,” he said.
‘If I’m coaching the Suns, I’ll call Dusty and say, ‘Man, great run, fantastic, if you ever want a ticket to a game, come on over, you know we’d love to have you.’
‘You’ve been an icon of the game, ride off into the sunset.
‘He has retired and given everything he could to Richmond Football Club.
“But I don’t know what Damien Hardwick is thinking. If he had played 20 games this year and the Suns had convinced him to go there, maybe the conversation would be different.
“But we have a player who retired, he’s retiring as a Richmond legend.”
Former Sydney Swans and Melbourne Demons coach Paul Roos believes Martin coming out of retirement to join the Suns is a bad idea
The Suns hope Martin’s strong relationship with coach Hardwick (pictured together) will encourage him to continue playing for the Queensland club.
Roos is not only concerned about Martin’s legacy, but fears that signing the superstar could backfire and lead to a drop in performance for other players.
Does it send the wrong message? Probably. It probably does a little bit.
“It probably tells your team that I don’t trust you. Now I’m going to get a player who’s retired, I think we need a retired player to come out and take us where we want to go.”
-Yes, I think so. I don’t think it conveys a great message.
‘Unless Dimma went to the leadership group, or the leadership group came to Dimma and said ‘we want Dustin Martin.’
“That’s a different conversation, but I think without it the wrong message is being sent.”
Gold Coast have a busy period of player movement ahead of them, with Martin’s triple Premiership teammate, Tiger Daniel Rioli, already requesting a swap deal to play for Hardwick.
Collingwood defender John Noble is also keen to join the Suns.
