Brendan Fevola declares Dustin Martin will retire after his 300th game
Brendan Fevola has shared explosive rumours Dustin Martin’s AFL career could be over sooner than everybody thinks.
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Former Carlton star Brendan Fevola has dropped a Dustin Martin bombshell declaring the Richmond goliath will retire as soon as he reaches his 300 game milestone and potentially move to the Gold Coast in 2025.
Martin, 32, is in the final year of a mega seven-year contract at Punt Road and has been linked to both a move away, possibly to the Suns, as well as pulling the pin entirely.
The triple-premiership star turned back the clock at the MCG last Saturday night booting three goals in Richmond’s narrow loss to Essendon in the Dreamtime clash as evidence he still has more in the tank.
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But just two games away from becoming the seventh Richmond player to reach the 300-game milestone, Fevola said he had “mail” the Martin would end his career at the Tigers on the spot before possibly resurfacing with the Suns and former coach Damien Hardwick.
“They want to play him at the MCG (against Hawthorn) for his 300th game. Dusty has been waiting for his 300th game. There’s a lot of rumours about him and next year, whether he will retire or play somewhere else,” Fevola told his Fifi, Fev & Nick radio show on Tuesday morning.
Dreamtime 🤠Dusty@DustinMartin4 claims @latitude_fs Player of the Match. pic.twitter.com/fiQOoGo6N9
— Richmond FC 🯠(@Richmond_FC) May 27, 2024
“My mail is that he will retire after he plays his 300th game. Say thank you to the Richmond fans after his 300th. Have a couple of months off. Get fit. Get his head right.
“His manager has been looking at real estate in the Gold Coast for Dusty to move up and rekindle his friendship with (Richmond premiership coach) Damien Hardwick, who now coaches the Gold Coast Suns.
“He’ll be getting paid a lot of money to go up to the Gold Coast, sit at full-forward, help those young kids; they’ve never played finals before in their history. So, they’ll get him up there and be the centrepiece of Queensland football.”
“I think the (Richmond) footy club already knows he’s going to leave. They know in their heart of hearts. So, they might say, ‘Hey mate, if you’re leaving – retire. We’ll give you a retirement game.’ He’s out of contract.”
The Tigers have won just a single game in 2024, which could hasten Martin’s exit.
“I honestly don’t,” ex-teammate and triple premiership captain Trent Cotchin told news.com.au when asked if he had any insight into Martin’s plans.
“I think he would go in ebbs and flows of what’s right and what’s not for him, but ultimately he’ll be the best judge of what footy he has left in him motivation wise.
“I’m sure he’ll come to the right decision for him at the right time.”
A move to the Gold Coast to finish off his career would see Martin follow a similar path to Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell and Isaac Smith — who left Hawthorn in the twilight of their careers.
“It’s a nice way to finish your career but I’m a realist in seeing that isn’t as valued as it once was,” Cotchin said.
“Of course I’d love to see him finish up as a one club player and a Tiger great. But if he was to decide to move, I don’t think that would impact (his legacy).
“A bit like Hodgey, it doesn’t impact the love and respect Hawthorn people have for Hodgey and I think it’d be the same for Dusty and the Tiges.”
Cotchin believes Martin’s form and trademark goal last weekend shows he could play on if ie wanted to.
“The greatest challenge as you get older is motivation, getting up every single day and that’s probably the part I’ve loved most about being retired,” he said.
“There’s a lot of mental application that goes into the game...that can be taxing day to day and just living your life.”
Cotchin retired last year but is pulling the boots back on this weekend to play for the Ballan Blues in Victoria’s Central Highlands football league as part of the Carlton Draft.
“I was starting to stress I hadn’t done any football work, which could make me come unstuck come Saturday,” he said.
“Plenty of guys have had an impact but the old saying goes, just playing my role.”
Injury wise, the 34-year-old said he was most worried about “anything soft tissue” but has “kept relatively fit” since retiring from the AFL.
The Carlton Draft sees AFL legends come out of retirement to support grassroots footy and give back to struggling clubs.
“On the back of Covid, their facility was delayed getting built so they haven’t had a home ground for ages,” Cotchin explained about Ballan.
“I’m really looking forward to getting out in a tight knit community and having a bit of fun playing footy while we do it.
Knowing what country footy and sporting clubs do for the community, I’m sure that’s been a real challenge for them.”
Cotchin, Isaac Smith, Matthew Lloyd, Leigh Montagna, Dylan Buckley and Erin Phillips are playing a one-off game for a loval VIC club this year.
Originally published as Brendan Fevola declares Dustin Martin will retire after his 300th game
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