"The way he is playing now, you probably wouldn't offer him another deal."
"You've changed your tune!"
The panel was stunned by Caro's call, as they discussed whether it would be best for Richmond if this is Dustin Martin's last season.
https://twitter.com/FootyonNine/status/1789955870006321589-----------------------------------
‘Clubs aren’t a charity’: Dusty in spotlight over ‘shocking’ form as AFL future questionedJames Dampney
News.com.au
May 14th, 2024 One of the modern greats of the AFL, Dustin Martin is facing speculation he has “lost the hunger” as he battles through the latter stages of his career.
A Norm Smith medallist in three Richmond premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020, Martin’s place in AFL history is secure.
But the 32-year-old is struggling through 2024 to date, with a calf injury partly limiting his production as he crawls towards 300 career games.
Martin, who missed the opening round clash with the Gold Coast and round three against the Swans, has appeared in seven matches this season, which have all been defeats.
He is averaging 19.4 disposals, compared to a career average of 24.4 over 15 seasons, and has kicked just four goals, with two coming in his season-opening loss to Carlton.
Sitting on 296 games and off-contract at the end of this year, Martin’s future was discussed on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
“Footy clubs aren’t a charity,” Kane Cornes began.
“(Richmond coach Adem Yze) has been pretty adamant, he’s said a couple of times one of the jobs he wants to tick off is to extend Dustin Martin’s contract.
“Is that the right call?”
Matthew Lloyd jumped in first, questioning the type of money Martin could earn if he continued on into 2025.
“Adem Yze has to be stronger than he’s ever been before about what is best for Richmond,” the Essendon great said.
“And I’m not sure spending $750,000 on Dustin Martin is best for Richmond.”
AFL journalist Caroline Wilson immediately jumped on that figure.
“There’s no way they would spend that money on Dustin Martin,” she said.
“$500 (thousand) absolute tops. At the moment he’s limping towards 300 (games). He wouldn’t get any more than that, I am certain, if he’s playing the way he is now.
“He’s limping towards 300 and the way he’s playing now, you probably wouldn’t offer him another deal.”
Six weeks ago, Cornes stated his belief Martin should retire at the end of this season, querying whether he would want to face questions over his form and place in the team in a rebuilding side.
Wilson pushed back on that assertion at the time, but has changed her tune after the Tigers champion’s last month of football.
“A lot’s happened in four weeks,” she said. “He was bordering on All Australian selection last year.
“If he goes on the way he’s going now, and he does seem to have lost the hunger, then of course he shouldn’t go on next year. Of course.
“Dustin Martin had had a couple of promising games back then. He’s had a shocking month.”
After a season-high 30 possessions against St Kilda in round four, he has struggled to make an impact since then, picking up 13, 18, 23 and 20 touches in losses to West Coast, Melbourne, Fremantle and the Bulldogs.
Last month, ex-AFL reporter Tony Sheahan claimed Martin was potentially eyeing an exit in the immediate future.
Martin’s manager Ralph Carr hit back hard at the speculation.
“Dustin at this point has no intention of retiring and he has never lost his love for AFL football,” he told the Herald Sun on April 9.
“The Richmond Football Club, the AFL and family has been an incredible support to him and I personally know that he wants to stay in the game as long as possible.
“I also want to thank all supporters of the game for supporting ‘the people’s champion’ Dustin Martin.
“He has been an unbelievably good player, but if he was to finish up at the end of the year or go away or find another club or whatever it may be, then he has the right to do that.
“I think he’s done enough in this game for us.”
If he is selected this week, Martin has another chance to get his first win of the season against the Lions in Brisbane on Saturday.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/richmond-tigers/clubs-arent-a-charity-dusty-in-spotlight-over-shocking-form-as-afl-future-questioned/news-story/478dc37dcf6c2bb0fd1d0113b063a610
