Brendon Gale on Dustin Martin trade talkRichmond boss Brendon Gale has weighed in on speculation Dustin Martin could link with Damien Hardwick, who is on the cusp of being named Gold Coast’s new coach.
Josh Barnes
HeraldSun
August 19, 2023 - 3:06PMRichmond has little interest in moving Dustin Martin on as CEO Brendon Gale shuts down talk the superstar could join his old coach Damien Hardwick on the Gold Coast next year.
Martin has one season to run on a lucrative seven-year deal he signed in 2017.
With Hardwick set to be unveiled as Gold Coast’s new coach next week, talk had linked Martin to a move north.
Hardwick was asked about a potential trade this week and baulked at the question.
But Gale said the Tigers weren’t keen on losing Martin and that the three-time Norm Smith medallist understood the legacy he could cement by playing on beyond 300 games in a Richmond jumper next year.
Martin played his 288th game against North Melbourne on Saturday, leaving him within striking distance of joining Kevin Bartlett, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards and Francis Bourke in playing 300 games for the Tigers.
“The speculation just goes on and on,” Gale told ABC radio.
“Firstly, Dustin is contracted, I will say that. Secondly, he is a really important part of our club for a bunch of reasons. Three, despite some of the challenges and despite our form and our inability to get the ball in the front half (this season), he is a very good player.
“He is not a bad footballer, Dustin Martin, and I just think he has looked back maybe the last couple of years with Edwards and Riewoldt and Cotchin and sees the important of legacy and history and what that means.
“He has the opportunity to play 300 games next year. He knows what that means at our football club. I just can’t see a scenario where he is not at Richmond.”
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2023-damien-hardwick-speaks-on-the-vacant-gold-coast-coaching-job/news-story/02367a0ca893e4c668f588ebfee17754