Richmond finishes with wooden spoon after loss to Gold Coast, Dustin Martin, Dylan Grimes, Marlion Pickett farewelled

Dustin Martin has bid an emotional farewell to football, revealing how much he will miss Punt Road and his beloved Richmond after playing his last AFL game.

NCA. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. August 24, 2024. AFL Round 24. Richmond vs Gold Coast Suns at the MCG. Richmonds Dustin Martin comes out onto the MCG for his lap of honour . Pic: Michael Klein

Retiring champions Dustin Martin and Dylan Grimes were handing out free hugs to players in the Richmond rooms pre-game on Saturday.

Grimes, a former co-captain, also provided some free words of advice before Tigers players ran up the race for one final time in season 2024.

“Enjoy it,” Grimes said with one arm around coach Adem Yze.

“It’s the last time this group is ever going to look the same.”

Dustin Martin watches on before farewelling the Tiger faithful. Picture: Michael Klein

After being announced as the Tigers’ new coach last September, Yze had said “subtle change” was required to get the Tigers back to winning finals.

Instead, he has got wholesale change within 12 months – whether he likes it or not.

It was not just the end of the season against Damien Hardwick’s Gold Coast Suns at the MCG.

Dustin Martin starts a lap of honour. Picture: Michael Klein

It was officially the end of an era.

Richmond started this year with 15 premiership players from 2020 still on its list.

The Tigers could enter next season with as few as six players remaining from that side – Toby Nankervis, Tom Lynch, Nick Vlastuin, Jayden Short, Noah Balta and Nathan Broad.

"I love you all so much." 🫶

Dustin Martin says goodbye to the Richmond fans as he hangs up the boots.#AFLTigersSunspic.twitter.com/mFabWMPvUL

— AFL (@AFL) August 24, 2024

Two Tigers fans show their appreciation for the retiring champion. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

While Martin and Grimes watched on from the stands on Saturday, two-time premiership player Marlion Pickett was afforded one last run after also announcing his retirement during the week.

Pickett started as substitute, but entered the game to a huge round of applause at the 19-minute-mark of the third term and got an even bigger cheer when he kicked what will go down as the 27th and final goal of his career midway through the final term.

Thank you Dusty, Dylan and Marlion 👏#AFLTigersSunspic.twitter.com/MRsY1vb2K6

— AFL (@AFL) August 24, 2024

Pickett joined Martin and Grimes in a lap of honour post-game, waving to a crowd of 34,557 predominantly Tigers fans who stuck around to say ‘thanks’ to the premiership heroes with a standing ovation.

Marlion Pickett came on as sub in his last game. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Pretty emotional and pretty surreal,” Martin said when asked how he was feeling by former teammate Jack Riewoldt.

“I think after today it will really sink in. As everyone knows, I love the club so much, I love you all so much. I’m going to miss the place so much. I’m just so grateful to be a Tiger.”

Martin was later moved to tears as he left the MCG field, where he provided so many highlights during his 302-game career.

Grimes described it as a “bittersweet moment”, while Pickett said it had “been a pleasure” playing for the Tigers.

The Suns and former Tigers coach Damien Hardwick had the last laugh. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

On top of the retirements, Dion Prestia and Kamdyn McIntosh remain without contracts for 2025, while Liam Baker and Jack Graham are expected to exercise their free agency rights.

Shai Bolton had already indicated he would like to return home to Western Australia and Daniel Rioli looks a lock to head north to the Gold Coast and reunite with former coach Hardwick.

Talk about winds of change.

The 28-point loss to the Suns confirmed that Richmond would win its first wooden spoon since 2007 and will hold the No. 1 selection heading into November’s national draft.

First-round draft picks helped propel the Tigers to three premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

There was Jack Riewoldt (pick 13, 2006), Trent Cotchin (pick 2, 2007) and Martin (pick 3, 2009) – among others.

Long-time list boss Blair Hartley and new recruiting manager Chris Toce now have the task of finding the next Riewoldt, Cotchin or Martin with what is shaping as a strong draft hand in a deep draft.

Originally published as Richmond finishes with wooden spoon after loss to Gold Coast, Dustin Martin, Dylan Grimes, Marlion Pickett farewelled