Dustin Martin in fresh blow for Richmond amid uncertainty over AFL champion's future

Richmond superstar Dustin Martin has been ruled out of his third consecutive AFL match after failing to put a lingering back injury in the rearview mirror. Martin was substituted out of Richmond's June 30 loss to Carlton with back spasms and has already missed games against Fremantle and GWS.

And on Thursday the triple Norm Smith Medallist was also ruled out of Saturday's clash with Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval. Martin has endured a frustrating season with multiple injury setbacks - with this weekend's match the sixth he will miss in 2024 - and speculation continues to mount that he could either retire from the sport or move to the Gold Coast next season.

The all-time great's form has been inconsistent even when he has been on the park in 2024 and there is reportedly a growing belief from the Suns that the 33-year-old wants to link up with his former mentor Damien Hardwick at the end of the season. The Suns coach previously admitted it would be 'crazy' for his team not to consider Martin if he would be interested in 2025. And ironically the Tigers will face the Suns in the final game of the 2024 regular season in what could be his final game in Tigers colours.

But Richmond coach Adam Yze remains confident that Martin will remain a Tiger next season, however, said his immediate focus is trying to get him back on the park. "It's a bit of a frustration for us," Yze said.

"We were hoping he was going to get up for training today. His back's still a little bit grumbly. So if we get him out there today, he's probably going to aggravate it again. So it's just easier for us to just rule him out this week and try and get some training load into him the following week.

"Right now the frustration is not only that (he can't play) - but he can't train to show and get prepared for the next game," Yze said. So when that is, hopefully, it is next week, we just need to get some volume into him. So hopefully he has a nice week next week. The main thing is just getting him back and playing one game, let alone the rest of the season."

Richmond confident Dustin Martin will be a Tiger in 2025

Richmond administrator Neil Balme says the Tigers are “pretty confident” Dustin Martin will be at Punt Road next season. Balme said Martin was unlikely to pursue an opportunity at another club if he opts to play on in 2025.

“Every second week there’s a Dusty story that he’s going somewhere, but I’m very confident that if he plays, he’ll keep playing for us,” Balme told SEN on Tuesday. “It would also be probably wrong for another club to recruit him because he’s not at the stage where he’s going to be his best and he’s not ever going to be the bloke who stands up and does all the media for you either.

RELATED:

• Jack Ginnivan move backfires on Collingwood as startling details emerge

• AFL player facing brutal decision to watch girlfriend at Olympics

• Dean Cox 'not going to pursue' West Coast job in massive development

“That’s the challenge of being a strong club – there is a chance you could lose your players at some stage, but we’re pretty confident that won’t happen.”

with agencies