Dustin Martin in fresh Gold Coast development amid eye-opening detail in AFL mega-trade

Speculation about Dustin Martin backflipping on his decision to retire from the AFL has intensified overnight after an eye-opening mega-trade involving the Gold Coast Suns. Martin has for months been linked with a move up north to play for the Gold Coast and reunite with former coach Damien Hardwick, whom he won three premierships with during their time together at the Tigers.

'Dusty' announced his retirement weeks out from the end of last season but his management had reportedly been in discussions with Suns officials about the 33-year-old playing on in 2025. The three-time Norm Smith Medallist appeared to put the rumours to bed once and for all after addressing his future at Richmond's best and fairest night earlier this month when he told Channel Nine he was "happily retired".

But a key detail in Tuesday's mega-trade deal involving Gold Coast, Collingwood and Port Adelaide has reignited suggestions the Suns are still working to convince Martin to change his mind. The Suns gave up two players in Jack Lukosius and Rory Atkins and only received one player in Collingwood defender John Noble in return - plus 2025 first-round picks from both Collingwood and Port Adelaide.

The same deal saw the Power give up Dan Houston, picks 39 and 58, plus a 2025 first-round pick in return for Lukosius, Atkins, Joe Richards and picks 13, 29, 36 and 50. Collingwood traded Joe Richards as well as Noble, plus a 2025 first-round pick and pick 36 to receive Port star Dan Houston and pick 58, in a deal described as 'disastrous' from Power great Kane Cornes.

Curiously though, the mega-trade leaves the Suns with one spot to fill in their playing roster for 2025, prompting leading AFL reporter Tom Morris to speculate on SEN Breakfast on Wednesday that the Gold Coast were leaving it open for Martin. “The Suns also get Rory Atkins off their books which gives them another list spot which has opened the door... for cynics or conspiracy theorists to suggest that spot will be for Dusty, which is a spot they didn’t expect to have a couple weeks ago.” Morris said.

“So there’s a number of different elements here. I think the Suns have done well to get picks in next year’s draft. And they’ve been busy and they had to be busy because they are trying to re-shape their list.” It's been widely accepted across the AFL world that Port Adelaide came out the biggest losers in the mega-deal, with Cornes insisting his former club did not get enough in exchange for letting Houston go.

Port Adelaide hit back over criticism of Dan Houston trade

“You've essentially traded a dual All-Australian who you had on the contract for three years on good money - favourable money for Port Adelaide - for pick 13 and 29. That's essentially what you've done," Cornes said. “I know there are some steak knives thrown in... Rory Atkins, I just can't work that one out. You've actually done Gold Coast a favour and taken his contract off their hands, but you get no benefit.”

Port Adelaide general manager of football Chris Davies defended the club's move though and stressed that the Power got the "best deal" possible. “What we got through the trade period was an understanding that the deal done yesterday was probably going to be the best deal we possibly could do through the trade period for Dan,” Davies said on AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday morning.

“While also importantly for us bringing in two players from other clubs we think are certainly going to help an area of the ground we need it.” The Port footy boss was also quick to respond to Cornes' criticism and said the club was happy with the trio of players they acquired as part of the Houston trade.

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“The balance there is whether you think (we’ve worse off) with Dan going out and Lukosius and Richards coming in plus whichever plays we choose at Pick 13 for the time being and the other selections inside 30,” Davies added. “The idea that we have access to high quality picks hasn’t been the case for the last seven or eight years because we’ve been finishing high enough on the ladder.

“I think our list manager Jason Cripps has a pretty tough job because we’re in this cycle of trying really hard to be as good as we possibly can and also needing to retool our squad on the run. We acknowledge Dan is a great player and I’ll miss him personally ... but we feel we’ve got adequate depth in our back half to be able to cover it and we need help in the front half. This deal has allowed us to at least be better there.”

with AAP