Why Richmond champion Dustin Martin will not conduct interviews ahead of game 300
By Anna Pavlou
13 hours ago
Dustin Martin will not conduct any interviews ahead of his 300th AFL game for Richmond.
Martin is undoubtedly one of the greatest Tigers to ever pull on the jumper and is currently sitting on 297 appearances for the club.
His collection across those games includes three premierships, three Norm Smith Medals, a Brownlow Medal and four All-Australian blazers.
"Part of the conversation (within Richmond) is that there will be no press conference or interview or along those sort of lines," Fox Footy's Glenn McFarlane said on Tuesday night.
"It is a shame.
"We saw a little bit of that with Buddy (Lance Franklin). But I think we've seen Buddy give back in a sense, since his retirement."
Franklin is one of the greatest players to ever lace up a boot but was famously media-shy and shunned a public profile.
Martin has reportedly agreed to a watered-down celebration ahead of his 300th game.
"What he will do and what he's agreed to do, is be in a photo with the five other living Richmond 300-gamers," McFarlane said.
Martin will be joined in that photo by former teammates Jack Reiwoldt, Shane Edwards and Trent Cotchin, as well as Kevin Bartlett, Wayne Campbell and Francis Bourke
They are just six of the seven Tigers 300-gamers.
On top of that, Richmond has also confirmed the club is producing a Martin documentary, with his former coach Damien Hardwick part of the special video.
It comes as Martin's mega nine-year deal comes to an end in 2024.
Martin is now 32, and questions are naturally arising about what the next chapter of his career holds - whether that be retirement, another year in the yellow and black, or even a move to a rival club.
Despite being lauded by outgoing Richmond CEO Brendon Gale, who will depart at the end of the season to take over as the new leader of the league's 19th franchise in Tasmania, the Tigers may be heading in a direction that doesn't include Martin.
"He's one I'm looking in the eye and saying, 'Dusty, how bad do you want this? Do you want to be playing in a bottom four side next year or not? If you aren't willing for that fight, we'd prefer to move you on'," Matthew Lloyd said on Nine's Footy Classified.
https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/news-2024-dustin-martin-game-300-richmond-tigers-no-interviews-jack-riewoldt/3e41cfb6-eaae-43ff-9955-a2429c03c2e6
