‘Really angry about this’: Hosts at odds as ‘part-time footballer’ Dusty sparks $1.4m Tigers issueFox Footy
July 23rd, 2024 6:57 pmAs speculation over the future and on-field availability of Dustin Martin continues to build, the three-time Norm Smith medallist has been labelled a “part-time footballer.”
Speaking during Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Tuesday night, panellists Gerard Whateley and Mark Robinson debated the amount of speculation surrounding Martin.
Having not played since being subbed out in Round 16 against Carlton with a ‘back issue’, the superstar veteran has been listed as a ‘test’ on Richmond’s injury list for the fourth week straight.
“He’s a part-time footballer on $1.4 million a year,” Whateley begun by saying.
“But he’s already earned that money in some ways; you sign someone on a long-term deal – when he was the best player in the game, he was worth $2.5 million,” Robinson rebutted.
“When he was winning flags at Richmond, he was worth two-and-a-half-million dollars – he wasn’t getting that then, he was getting $1.2 (million).”
With much-warranted hype surrounding Martin this season in the build-up to his 300th game in Round 14, Martin was curiously listed as ill for their match a week prior against Adelaide in Adelaide.
The timing on when the modern era great does and doesn’t take to the field has mystified some fans; mainly around the vague reasoning surrounding his absences.
But nonetheless, his footballing resume is more than impressive enough to cut Martin and the club slack around his current situation.
Robinson continued expressing his disbelief at the coverage the three-time premiership player has had in recent weeks.
“I’m really angry about this – I think the media’s creating a circus because they’ve got nothing else much to talk about, so ‘let’s go after Richmond!’” he said.
“Dustin Martin and Richmond, they are in unison about how this is going to play out; Richmond’s not putting pressure on Martin – people in the media are saying: “Put pressure on him, put pressure on him, make him tell you (what he’s doing)!”
“Richmond should sit up and say ‘get stuffed!’ We will handle our player; this is between us and Dustin Martin, the rest of you can go and jump on your heads.”
The 33-year-old has been strongly linked to the Gold Coast, as his connection with former coach Damien Hardwick looms as potential pulling power to get Martin to extend his career beyond 2024.
But as Whateley fairly pointed out, while the optics on Martin’s lack of on-field appearances and speculation over his future could quite well be blown out of proportion to date, that view could very easily change post-season.
“I don’t think Richmond can offer him a new contract, and this will look a bit different if he takes two years on the Gold Coast – but let’s just let it play out,” Whateley said.
“If he takes two years on the Gold Coast, I will absolutely guarantee you there’s not a Richmond person who will say: ‘God, we hate you Dustin’ – he’s earned some right,” Robinson ended by saying.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/really-angry-about-this-hosts-at-odds-as-parttime-footballer-dusty-sparks-14m-tigers-issue/news-story/1ec0d91fc1760ad87166d46c94c93f00
