AFL legend Dusty Martin tipped to play for SA footy club
AFL champion Dustin Martin has been tipped to pull the boots back on for the first time since retirement and play for an SA footy club. See the truth behind the rumour.
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AFL legend Dustin Martin has been rumoured to make a shock return to footy and suit up for an SA footy club in the coming weeks.
The 34-year-old has not returned to the game since calling time on his 302-game career which saw him claim three premierships, three Norm Smith Medals and a Brownlow Medal, but has been tipped by Crows legend Mark Ricciuto to pull the boots back on for a Hills Football League club.
Ricciuto recently revealed the information on Triple M radio’s ‘rumour mill’, a segment on ‘Roo, Ditts & Loz’.
“We’ve heard a rumour that Dusty Martin is going to make an appearance up at a club in the Hills in the next couple of weeks,” Ricciuto said.
“We made a call and they said that it’s not happening but I have heard this from so many people and I can understand why it spreads … if Dusty played a game in the Hills there’d be a crowd of over 10,000 people.
“I can’t see Dusty doing it but apparently he has a mate up there and he could be playing a game … could be.”
Former Richmond ruck Ivan Maric, who played alongside Martin for the Tigers, has made three appearances for reigning HFL premier Hahndorf this season, recently booting four goals against Blackwood.
Maric could be the name tipped to entice Martin back to the game.
The Martin report comes just a week after a false local SA footy rumour involving Geelong great Tom Hawkins playing alongside former teammate Daniel Menzel at the Coorong Cats in the River Murray Football League.
Menzel, the current Coorong playing-coach, knocked back the report.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Martin would arguably be the biggest name to ever pull on a local SA footy guernsey.
The Hills Football League has denied the rumour but left the door wide open for the Tigers champion to make an appearance.
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