Fears Richmond star Dusty Martin is battling mental health issues and may retire or move to Sydney
Concerns have been raised over the mental health of star Tiger Dusty Martin, with speculation he may soon retire — or end up in Sydney.
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Richmond Football Club is worried for their star playmaker Dustin Martin with both parties agreeing to time away from the club.
The Tigers’ on-baller is in a very vulnerable state right now and is believed to be dealing with a number of issues in his private life.
Friends are concerned for his mental health with some suggesting retirement for the AFL champion is not out of the question.
Communication between family, friends and colleagues has been minimal at best with even some of his closest mates not getting texts back from Martin.
Which is unusual.
He was supposed to be ringside for Wednesday night’s boxing between good friend Sonny Bill Williams and former AFL big man Barry Hall, but he didn’t show.
Friends say his phone was turned off but he did surface Thursday night at a friend’s place safe and sound.
It is highly unlikely Martin will lace up the boots for Richmond today in its clash at the MCG against the Greater Western Sydney Giants.
In fact he may even miss the next two matches. To be honest, nobody knows a return date and there is no expectation right now.
And his playing future is now a distant second to that of Martin’s mental health.
The loss of a father is so very sad by anybody’s standards, but for Dusty, his father’s passing in December was such a surprise as Shane was Dusty’s ‘rock’.
“They were more so best mates than father and son,” a friend said.
“He is actually a sensitive soul.”
Some say he is even shy, which is why Martin loves Sydney.
He is well known in the rugby mad state but doesn’t have the prying eyes of Melbourne which allows him to enjoy the freedom the Harbour City has to offer.
Dusty has always considered playing in Sydney.
If Buddy Franklin is to retire at season’s end, could the Swans make a play for the triple premiership star and Brownlow medallist to take the AFL game to new heights?
SPORTS STARS PAID HANDSOMELY FOR REALITY TV STINTS
Australian celebrities are paid extraordinary amounts to appear on reality programs; but not every well known star will agree with that statement
Channel 10’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here paid boxer Anthony Mundine pocketed the very handy sum of $400,000 to appear alongside arch rival Danny Green in the South African jungle for ten days.
For those wondering, that is $40,000 a day.
Mundine and Green were put through some horrible tasks including lying in a box full of snakes and eating things that make you want to bring the back up.
The former foes have now become friends with the pair sharing a laugh at Monday’s press boxing conference in Sydney.
Exorbitant fees, we have found are not given to every celebrity who appears on reality television.
Those lucky enough to negotiate a good deal like Mundine or Nathan Buckley’s $300,000 plus are rarer than we think.
Abbie Chatfield revealed this week she was paid a measly $10,000 for her appearance on The Bachelor.
WARNER’S EXTRAVAGENT BOAT PARTY COST A PACKET
David and Candice Warner’s boat party on Sydney Harbour this year cost a small fortune and we’ve been given the details.
The Aussie cricket star and his radio host wife splashed out on 40 of their closest friends with a party on the Laundy family boat worth a whopping $10 million.
Sipping on French champagne, expensive vodkas and boutique beers, as well as edible delicacies, the party goers enjoyed five hours on Sydney Harbour, as our pictures revealed the lavish lengths the loved up couple went to shower their guests.
Friends of the famous couple tell Sheahan Ink the bill came to a whopping $50,000 and boating experts have given us the breakdown.
Boat: $3,500 per hour x 5 = $17,500
Booze: Ultimate package $600 per person x 40 = $24,000
Food: $125 Per person x 40 = $5,000
Total = $46,500 + GST = $51,150
Warner is due back into Australia tonight after competing for Australia against Pakistan.
BARRY BOXING FARCE
Barry Hall’s made $4347 a second for his poor performance Wednesday night in the highly anticipated boxing bout which finished as a farce.
Hall took home half a million dollars for his fight against a bigger, better boxer in Sonny Bill Williams.
In an interview last Sunday on the Nine Network’s Sunday Footy Show, Hall may have accidentally predicted his own demise.
We think he uttered the words, “he’s a legit fighter and he’s going to …. win/improve.”
Many experts thought the fight was a farce.
Hall’s first professional fight against Paul Gallen was considered a small victory.
Wednesday night’s effort was laughable.
In the lead-up to the bout we had an exclusive insight into how each fighter prepared and they were poles apart.
The former AFL big man and Sydney Swan was spotted sipping coffee with his brother-in-law in the foyer of the QT hotel in Sydney’s CBD.
As Sydney’s CBD was awash with suits and skirts leaving work, Hall was went largely unnoticed wearing a cap, not saying much and staring at the foot traffic.
Sonny Bill, on the other hand, went to the movies and watched Batman.
“It was a good movie, hey,” he told Sheahan Ink.
But AFL stars past and present were in the crowd for Wednesday night’s turf war between Hall and SBW
GWS Giants captain Toby Greene and big marking forward Harry Himmelberg were seen talking to AFL great Wayne Carey.
Also in that group was Geelong premiership star Steve Johnson and Swans premiership goal sneak Amon Buchanan, both of whom are now assistant coaches to Leon Cameron at the Giants.
Carey and Hall’s SAS Celebrity camp mates from the popular Channel 7 series were also in the crowd, including Simone Holtznagel, Anna Heinrich and her hubby Tim Robards and V8 girl Riana Crehan.
Former NRL enforcer Willy Mason was also in that group.
MILLION DOLLAR PAYDAY FOR AFL EXEC
An AFL executive’s decision to take a majority share in a syndicate horse has netted him in excess of a million dollars.
Ray Gunston’s horse Fireburn won last Saturday’s Golden Slipper at Rosehill; celebrating with jockey Brenton Avdulla and trainer Gary Portelli.
Gunston was reluctant to reveal his share but did say he was the biggest shareholder in Fireburn, which took home $2.8 million in prizemoney.
Celebrations were cut short at Rosehill with Gunston returning to Melbourne early Sunday morning to watch his son Jack play for Hawthorn.
“It was pretty exciting as Gary Portelli and Brenton Avdulla have said at the 600m mark the race looked all over because she got smashed.
“I had a bit of a wager on it, but I’m not much of punter. But I figured whatever the horse won was enough or me
“Watching my son play is a little bit more nerve racking because it’s little closer to home but that day was right up there and pretty special,” Gunston said.
“It’s sort of like watching Jack play grand finals.”
The AFL consultant said the opportunity to snare a greater share in Fireburn was very lucky.
“I am in a syndicate that owns the broodmare, Mull Over, so I had small part of that.
“Mull over went to Rebel Dane, and subsequently produced Fireburn
“When it came to the stage of ownership of the foul, which subsequently became Fireburn, and finalising ownership some of the people in Mull Over got out and so I took the opportunity to get a little more.”
And what a smart decision that turned out to be.
“It was one of those very, very fortunate weekends where you pinch yourself. I can’t say I’ve really come down from it in either respect.”
Fireburn will now run in next Saturday’s Sires Produce at Randwick on April 2.
ALL EYES WANTED TO BE ON BUDDY
NRL star James Tedesco wanted to watch Buddy Franklin kick his 1000th goal despite his team playing at the same time, he admitted this week.
The Roosters captain wondered whether it was smart scheduling the two sports up against each in Sydney, considering Franklin was likely to record his amazing feat at the SCG against Geelong.
All eyes were on the SCG Friday night as Franklin became just the sixth person in VFL/AFL history to boot 1000 majors.
Across town at Sydney’s Accor Stadium at Homebush, Tedesco’s Roosters were defeated by Latrell Mitchell’s Rabbitohs.
Channel 7’s AFL broadcast had twice the number of viewers than its rival football code, the NRL, with 633,000 people tuning in to watch Buddy create history at the SCG.
While Channel 9’s Roosters vs Rabbitohs clash was watched by 306,000 fans.
“It would have been good to watch the game,” Tedesco said during the week.
“It is disappointing as Buddy is my favourite player.”
Scheduling games by the respective codes is made about six months in advance, which makes timing hard to predict.
Tedesco was in Sydney’s Double Bay this week discussing his latest venture Modex, which he says assists him with his training, recovery and mental clarity.
Modex is a drink that Tedesco takes everyday before training and in the afternoons on game day.
“It’s awesome, it gives you more energy,” he said.
“And now it helps me with my training and recovery.
“Since the start of the year, I’ve been using it religiously every day.
“It definitely gives you more energy to kick start the day, particularly those long days during pre-season
“The benefits are noticeable particularly with performance and recovery with my energy levels and then after a game the recovery is better.
“Getting a bit older you start to feel those niggles a lot more.
“Even my clarity of mind has improved as a result,” the Dally M winner revealed.
“I’ve told the doctors and nutritionists, although I haven’t told ‘Robbo’ (coach Trent Robinson).
“I think they were sceptical at first, they didn’t really know much about it, but we’ve ticked all the boxes.
“Now that I’m taking it regularly all the boys are interested and want to get on board.”
PAUL ROOS PENTHOUSE
Paul Roos South Melbourne penthouse is about to net a whopping $5 million.
A lucky buyer is about to be the new owner of Roosy’s up-market three level townhouse on the edge of the city with amazing views of Melbourne’s skyline stretching all the way to salubrious South Yarra.
“The apartment is under offer and we are waiting legal tick of approval” agent Matthew Pillios told Sheahan Ink.
Roos is believed to be in the United States with wife Tammy and eager to sign off on the sale.
The apartment with its own private garage and lift access has hardly been lived in with the Roos family keen to spend more time at their Hawaii base in America.
SHEAHAN INK’S SECRET SHORTS
*Billionaire betting boss James Packer is believed to be bunkered down at his Buenos Aires polo ranch this week, opting not to attend great mate Shane Warne’s MCG goodbye.
Packer has been at his Argentinian hideaway Ellerstina since the shocking news of Warne’s passing was made public over two weeks ago.
**Golfing great Greg Norman has snuck back into Australia with wife Kirsten.
The Normans took off out of Melbourne Saturday morning on Lindsay Fox’s private plane from Essendon Airport bound for the northern states.
***The hot rumour doing the rounds recently was that Sydney hotelier Justin Hemmes was eyeing off the famous Sorrento Hotel to add to his extensive real estate collection.
So we put the rumour to Hemmes’ people who said ‘not true’, and then put it to the owners of the exclusive Mornington Peninsula watering hole, the popular Pitt family, who told us ‘she ain’t for sale.’
Hemmes purchased the Lorne Hotel for a reported $38m last year.
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