Dustin Martin's overseas trip comes to light as Richmond hit by new blow around AFL champ
The veteran Tigers player wasn't in the country at the start of the week.
New details have emerged that Dustin Martin wasn't even in the country at the start of the week after Richmond revealed on Thursday that he won't play this weekend. The veteran Tigers star will miss a third-straight game with a back issue that keeps lingering.
Martin was subbed out of Richmond's loss to Carlton last month after experiencing back spasms, before sitting out games against Fremantle and GWS. And he won't be playing against Port Adelaide this weekend either.
"It's a bit of a frustration for us," Richmond coach Adam Yze said on Thursday. "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. He's got a crook back at the moment - it spasms. So right now, if we go and try and push him through that, it could aggravate it. We'll give him that extra time to hopefully get up next week."
Dustin Martin had been in New Zealand visiting family
In a curious development, leading AFL journalist Mitch Cleary reported on Thursday night that Martin was in New Zealand at the start of the week visiting family. The 33-year-old only arrived back in Australia on Tuesday night, which made it very unlikely he'd be playing in Adelaide on Saturday.
“He travelled there last week to visit family, missing the Tigers’ loss to the Giants,” Cleary reported on 7News. “He returned late on Tuesday night, meaning he was never any chance to prove his fitness from his ongoing back concern.”
RELATED:
Isaac Heeney takes new dig at Toby Greene over GWS Giants video
Dean Cox cops warning over 'disrespectful' move towards Swans
Yze said Martin has been left frustrated by his interrupted season, which has come amid uncertainty over whether he'll extend his legendary career into 2025. Speculation is running rife that he'll sign for the Gold Coast Suns and reunite with former coach Damien Hardwick.
"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."
Richmond hopeful of getting Dustin Martin back on the field
Yze said he's confident Richmond can get a block of games into Martin over the rest of the season, but isn't looking beyond next Sunday's game against Collingwood. "The main thing is just getting him back and playing one game, let alone the rest of the season," he said.
Yze laughed off a joke that he might have to confiscate Martin's golf clubs to help the 33-year-old recover. "No, I haven't," he said. "It's actually been very good for him for the last couple years, taking up something outside of footy.
"And not only that, he connects with our players. So he's been able to play with Rhyan Mansell and some of our younger players. For them to go and walk 18 holes with one of the best players to ever play game - not golf - that's been great."
with AAP
