Dusty living with Connors, but Tigers OKNick Bowen and Nathan Schmook
afl.com.au
February 28, 2014 5:05 PMRICHMOND has given Dustin Martin the green light to live with sacked Tiger and best mate Dan Connors.
AFL.com.au understands the controversial 22-year-old has moved in with Connors and his girlfriend at a rental property in bayside Melbourne in the past few weeks.
Connors was sacked by the Tigers in July 2012 after he and Martin missed a morning training session, having taken sleeping medication the night before that was prescribed to Connors.
At the time, Connors was on his final chance with the Tigers, having struggled with longstanding alcohol problems that Richmond and the AFL Players' Association had tried to help him overcome.
Martin, then in his third season, was suspended by Richmond for two matches and, according to Connors, told not to associate with his sacked teammate.
"'Dusty' is my best mate, but I don't think the club is real keen on him hanging out with me,” Connors said in November 2012.
"They told him he's not allowed to hang out with me, but I can still speak to him on the phone. I still speak to him every day.”
Richmond football manager Dan Richardson told AFL.com.au on Friday the Tigers were not concerned Martin was living with Connors.
"We are aware that Dustin has moved in with Dan and it's not a concern," Richardson said.
The Martin development comes after a period of debate around forward Jake King's right to socialise with former Bandidos biker Toby Mitchell.
After Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale said King was free to mix with whoever he chose in his free time, League boss Andrew Demetriou said the club should reconsider that stance.
Martin and Richmond were involved in a messy contract stand-off at the end of 2013 when the midfielder publicly flirted with leaving the club. He went as far as touring Greater Western Sydney's training facilities, but eventually re-signed with the Tigers.
Connors attempted to revive his AFL career at the end of 2012 but was not re-drafted, and will play with VFL club Port Melbourne this season.
Martin has continued his friendship with Connors and was seen watching his friend play in an Essendon District League final for Aberfeldie last September.
During his first season, Martin moved into the home of then Richmond president Gary March, and he lived with captain Trent Cotchin for a few weeks at the end of 2013.
After finishing second in the Tigers' best and fairest last season, Martin said his father was planning to move from Sydney to Melbourne to support him.
Richmond's head of development, Mark Williams, has played a key role supporting Martin since arriving at the club in September 2012.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-02-28/dan-dusty-together-again
