Ex-Tiger Royce Hart send message to Richamond star Dustin Martin ahead of career milestone game against Hawthorn
Richmond legend Royce Hart has sent a message to star player Dustin Martin ahead of his career milestone game against Hawthorn on Saturday. Martin has been subject of trade speculations, with many sources claiming that the 32-year-old will hang his boots either after Saturday's game or at the end of the season.
Dustin Martin, who signed a seven-year deal in 2017, is in the final year of that contract. At the moment, he has not spoken about his plans for the future.
Hart has urged the triple Norm Smith medalist to remain a one-club man and use his last good years at the club. Speaking to Herald Sun, the ex-Richmond man said:
“I want him to be a one-club player, that’s what I would say to Dusty. It (loyalty) is in his nature. I have never met him (face-to-face), but he looks like a guy who would be happy to stay.
I reckon if he decided to go to another club, he would feel totally out of place and it wouldn’t be good for him. He doesn’t need to be doing new things, he needs to stay where he is.”
The rebuild under Adem Yze looks like it is going to take years that Martin may not have and with Richmond out of finals contention so early in the season, Dustin Martin may have to decide if he wants to remain part of that rebuild or try to pick his fourth flag at another club.
“He might go for the money, but I doubt it, he doesn’t seem like that is the thing that drives him…he looks like he is helping out the young kids (at Richmond)...he might not win another flag (in his time left), but he can help the young boys get better.”
Former forward believes Dustin Martin is considering a move away from Richmond.
Former AFL forward Brendan Fevola believes Dustin Martin is considering a reunion with former coach Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast. He claimed that Martin's manager was looking for a house for him on the Gold Coast.
Speaking on Fox's 'Fifi, Fev and Nick' radio show last month, Fevola said:
“Dusty has been waiting for his 300th game. There’s a lot of rumours about him and next year, whether he will retire or play somewhere else.”
“My mail is that he will retire after he plays his 300th game…have a couple of months off. Get fit. Get his head right. His manager has been looking at real estate in the Gold Coast for Dusty to move up and re-kindle his friendship with Damien Hardwick, who now coaches the Gold Coast Suns.”
“He’ll be getting paid a lot of money to go up to the Gold Coast, sit at full-forward… so, they’ll get him up there and be the centre-piece of Queensland football.”
Fevola believes the hierarchy at Richmond have made peace with the the possibility of Dustin's exit at the end of the season and would plan a retirement game for him.