1. The uncertain futuresJon Ralph
HeraldSun
4 September 2023We made the journey to the MCG in round 23 so the kids could take in the Jack Riewoldt- Trent Cotchin farewell tour.
Really, I was there to say a pre-emptive goodbye to Dustin Martin.
At that stage, the jungle drums were deafening that Martin was open to a move to Gold Coast …. and the Suns were keen on him.
As it turns out, the Suns have gone a little cold.
But Martin is yet to meet with manager Ralph Carr for his post-season catch-up to sort out what his medium-term future looks like.
The rugrats took an incredible amount of wrangling – don’t they always – so it was a rare stat-free and radio commentary-free afternoon.
Martin was engaged and involved – and just bloody spectacular.
Three weeks on, as Richmond and North Melbourne plot their off-season strategies – one hanging onto past glories, another keen to throw off the mantle as footy’s worst team – the game remains stuck in my head.
Why?
Because in teams with few real match-winners, Richmond and North Melbourne need Martin and Thomas to stay around to fulfil contacts next year more than ever.
Imagine Richmond’s next coach going into the 2024 season without Martin, effectively coaching without his most dangerous forward-line weapon?
It’s impossible to contemplate, so Richmond needs to do what it needs to sign him up past 2024, keep him content, and let him play out his dotage at Punt Road.
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/wreck-it-ralph-the-big-questions-and-looming-decisions-ahead-of-the-afl-trade-and-free-agency-period/news-story/12271fcc863717dfbb159c69c31d11a2