Jack Riewoldt reveals he's sent Dustin Martin several messages but has had NO reply - and admits Tigers playing group are 'in the dark' about his return* There has been speculation that Martin is about to make his return to the AFL
* He took time away from the game to deal with the death of his father
* Martin has been spotted training in a Melbourne gym and meeting his manager
* But his Tigers teammate Jack Riewoldt says the players remain in the dark
By Josh Alston
Daily Mail
17:47 AEST, 22 April 2022If Dustin Martin is set to make a dramatic return to Punt Road, his Richmond teammates know nothing about it.
Speculation is rife that Martin is set to make his return after almost a month away from the game. The three-time Norm Smith Medallist took time away from the AFL after round one to come to terms with the death of his father in the off-season.
On Friday his fellow premiership player Jack Riewoldt revealed on SEN that he had messaged Martin several times but had not received any reply.
'It's been a while since we've had the media brigade camping out in the car park there - they're back,' he said.
'They're hiding behind cars, hiding behind trees, hiding behind rubbish bins to be that person to catch the first glimpse of Dustin Martin coming back to the club.
'To be honest, what I spoke about on [AFL] 360 last night was we're still in the dark a little on when and where Dustin will come back.
'The murmurs are that he is back in Melbourne. I've sent him a few messages, haven't heard back from him yet.
'Still giving him some clean air but look, to be honest, it's just about getting him right and healthy. That is the main thing that we want.'
Riewoldt moved to temper expectations and said that it would likely be a long road before Martin would be back to his best footy if and when he returns to the AFL.
'We want him to be back and when he comes back we know that it's not going to be plain sailing for Dusty straight away,' he said.
'He's going to have his ups and downs and no doubt he will have those for a long period in his life to come.
'It's about about getting him back in the best possible mental health for us.
'We look forward to having him back in the walls so we can keep him close and then hopefully get him back on the field sometime soon.'
The speculation about his return to the game intensified this week with reports the three-time premiership winner had returned from his trip to Sydney and was spotted working out in a Port Melbourne gym.
Veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson said: 'It's as strong as I've heard that there's a very good chance he'll be back training over the next week. I can't confirm it, but that's what I believe is a strong chance'.
It is also understood that Martin met with his manager Ralph Carr for several hours on Thursday night, fuelling the speculation his return is imminent.
Mark Robinson compared the Martin situation to Michael Jordan, who retired from the NBA for the first time in 1993 after his first three-peat with the Chicago Bulls, citing a loss of love for the game.
'The similarities between Jordan and Martin go way beyond performance,' Robinson wrote in his Herald Sun column.
'Martin, 30, is right now confronted with exactly what 30-year-old Jordan had to endure at the Chicago Bulls – the loss of his dad.
'His father was his best friend and people close to Martin say the reality of the loss eventually floored him almost three months after the event.
'Tellingly, Jordan returned to basketball, won three more championships, and played until he was 40.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/afl/article-10742283/Jack-Riewoldt-reveals-hes-sent-Dustin-Martin-messages-NO-reply.html
