Dustin Martin [merged]

[Assange Tiger 😎]

To be honest I'm more annoyed at how he simply doesn't contest at times. His best will still be brilliant I'd imagine but needs a better group around him to help him get there.

[Lozza]

I'm going to say what I really think here.

I reckon dusty is on the decline and has been slowly for a couple of years or so. His best is still amazing but will be fewer occasions and farther between.

His breakaway pace has dropped off and he doesn't break tackles these days, has been the focus of attention for so long I think teams have figured out how best to play him.

Agree, think Dusty will play a more cameo role in the side rather than being a game breaker, sad in a way but it happens to all champions eventually.

[Willy]

I'm going to say what I really think here.

I reckon dusty is on the decline and has been slowly for a couple of years or so. His best is still amazing but will be fewer occasions and farther between.

His breakaway pace has dropped off and he doesn't break tackles these days, has been the focus of attention for so long I think teams have figured out how best to play him.

Agree, think Dusty will play a more cameo role in the side rather than being a game breaker, sad in a way but it happens to all champions eventually.

Correct. He’s not in his prime anymore. Petracca and Cripps are.

The wheel turns. Time to find and find the next heroes.

[one-eyed]

Did anyone else think that Dusty might have twinged a hammy tonight? Felt like he wasn't a factor in the last qtr and spent a lot of time forward.

No mention of Dusty in Dimma's presser nor the AFL website's list of injuries in the match report. Not that that's any guarantee.

[FooffooValve]

Did anyone else think that Dusty might have twinged a hammy tonight? Felt like he wasn't a factor in the last qtr and spent a lot of time forward.

No mention of Dusty in Dimma's presser nor the AFL website's list of injuries in the match report. Not that that's any guarantee.

No, but he did stretch it a few times after kicking that goal in the 3rd, then from then on basically went to centre bounces and drifted forward. A watch for during the week.

[Damo]

He’s fried
Still a gun, but not nearly what he was

[mightytiges]

Did anyone else think that Dusty might have twinged a hammy tonight? Felt like he wasn't a factor in the last qtr and spent a lot of time forward.

No mention of Dusty in Dimma's presser nor the AFL website's list of injuries in the match report. Not that that's any guarantee.

No, but he did stretch it a few times after kicking that goal in the 3rd, then from then on basically went to centre bounces and drifted forward. A watch for during the week.

I rewatched that part of the game. Dusty does bend forward to stretch and then does a quick feel at the top of his back right leg.

Later on early on the last he does kick long with his right foot from HB. He has another short around the body kick on his right only about a minute later. Dusty also attends two centrebounces in the last but only touches it once when he kicks the ball into Cerra. The only query is near the end of the game when Dusty kicks with his left to Baker. Dusty did though walk off the ground fine along with rest of the team and he had nothing on his leg.

[mightytiges]

To be honest I'm more annoyed at how he simply doesn't contest at times. His best will still be brilliant I'd imagine but needs a better group around him to help him get there.

The 2017-2020 team around Dusty allowed him to be more aggressive with where he stood at stoppages and not worry about the defensive side of the game too much. However, with our now weaker midfield, he at least got caught out twice in the last quarter not being defensively minded at stoppages which allowed Cerra to stand on his own defensive side of the stoppage and then freely get goal side to receive and win the clearance.

[one-eyed]

Dusty didn't train today. With a 10 day break he was "told to rest up".

https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1506176378198274050

[FooffooValve]

Interested to see if he hits the track on Thursday/Friday or whenever our main session is. I still reckon he has a hamstring niggle.

[WilliamPowell]

HUN, The Age and AFL website all saying Dusty has taken personal leave from the Club

Apparently Dimma said it in his weekly presser

May not play this Sunday

Take as much time as you need Dusty

[FooffooValve]

Hope he's ok.

Another shock retirement pending?

[pmac21]

Hope he's ok.

Another shock retirement pending?

Wouldn't surprise me,

[FooffooValve]

Hope he's ok.

Another shock retirement pending?

Wouldn't surprise me,

He's done it all thrice (like Barty), but he can see the other side of the mountain, and it's looking like a steep downward incline. Why hang around? His earning capacity probably stays unaffected and he doesn't have to put his body through another few years of hell..for probably little result.

[Andyy]

Hope he's ok.

Another shock retirement pending?

Wouldn't surprise me,

He's done it all thrice (like Barty), but he can see the other side of the mountain, and it's looking like a steep downward incline. Why hang around? His earning capacity probably stays unaffected and he doesn't have to put his body through another few years of hell..for probably little result.

This, or he's still struggling re: his dad.