Video captures Dustin Martin groping topless woman’s breast

Dustin Martin has been rocked by a groping scandal as he prepares to play for the first time in weeks, while Richmond battles to keep its finals campaign alive.

The AFL is investigating a shock video showing Richmond star Dustin Martin groping a topless woman’s breast from behind.

The footage, which was being widely circulated on the eve of the finals, shows Martin reaching around the semi-naked female’s body to jiggle her right breast while she sits on another man’s lap.

The video appears to have been taken in a strip bar or club, but it’s not clear when or where the incident happened.

The woman is shown taking a drink from Martin before she turns away and he fondles her breast while standing behind her.

The Richmond superstar then laughs to himself and walks away.

An AFL spokesman on Wednesday night said: “We have become aware of a video posted on social media. We are seeking further information.”

Video shows Martin reaching around the semi-naked female’s body to jiggle her right breast.

It’s not clear when or where the incident happened.

Richmond issued a statement on Thursday, saying: “The Club has become aware of a video from 2015 that is circulating on-line involving Dustin Martin.

“The AFL has been informed and we are working cooperatively to understand the circumstances.No further comment to make at this stage.”

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick was quizzed about the video on Wednesday afternoon during a press conference ahead of the club’s Thursday night elimination final clash with Brisbane.

“There’s just an old video of what looks like from 2017 of Dusty online on Twitter this afternoon, I think at a Richmond event. Are you aware of that, have you seen that video?” 7 News reporter Tom Browne asked.

“No,” Hardwick responded. “I’m not too sure.”

Richmond’s major sponsor, health insurer nib, has backed the club’s handling of the scandal.

“The club has been keeping us informed and we are supportive of its position at this time,” a nib spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for Swinburne University, another club sponsor, said: “This is a matter for the Richmond Football Club.”

Martin had just been named in Richmond’s Thursday night line-up after recovering from a hamstring strain that kept him sidelined since round 16.

The woman was sitting on another man’s lap.

The video appears to have been taken in a strip bar or club.

The emergence of the footage comes after Collingwood star Jordan De Goey had a contract offer rescinded when a video emerged of him appearing to expose a female friend’s breast at a Bali nightclub in June.

De Goey’s Bali antics followed an October incident in New York, where he spent a night behind bars after being charged with forcibly touching a woman and assaulting a man.

Those charges were later dropped, with the explosive Magpies onballer later pleading guilty to harassment – considered a violation rather than a crime.

Martin is one of the most celebrated figures in AFL history, having famously claimed the Norm Smith Medal for best afield in each of the Tigers’ recent three premierships.

But the 2017 Brownlow medallist’s career has also been marred by controversy.

In 2015, he was accused of making threats to stab a woman with a chopstick at Japanese restaurant Mr Miyagi on Chapel St and later apologised.

In 2014, he was fined for driving while suspended after running a red light in 2013.

Martin was named to play in Richmond’s final against Brisbane on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

In 2012, he was suspended for two weeks by Richmond for missing training after taking sleeping tablets the previous night.

Dancers told the Herald Sun that touching of the breasts was discouraged in most clubs in Melbourne’s King St – especially if the act was not consensual.

Former gender adviser to the NRL, Catharine Lumby, a professor at the University of Sydney, said everyone deserved to be treated with respect at their workplace.

“It’s well known within strip clubs you’re not allowed to touch women and men, and therefore you have to abide by the rules, in the same way as behind the shop counter you don’t abuse people behind the cash register,” she said, speaking generally.

“You don’t grab anyone’s body in any context without permission ever.”

Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, who oversaw a review of the AFL respect and responsibility policy, did not comment when her office was contacted.

The policy, revised in 2017, enables women to contact the AFL anonymously to make a complaint.

Under the policy, complainants are offered support independent of the AFL and its clubs.

Originally published as Video captures Dustin Martin groping topless woman’s breast