AFL news 2023: Brendon Gale, Damien Hardwick on Dustin Martin trade talk
Richmond boss Brendon Gale has weighed in on speculation Dustin Martin could link with Damien Hardwick, who is on the cusp of being named Gold Coast’s new coach.
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Richmond has little interest in moving Dustin Martin on as CEO Brendon Gale shuts down talk the superstar could join his old coach Damien Hardwick on the Gold Coast next year.
Martin has one season to run on a lucrative seven-year deal he signed in 2017.
With Hardwick set to be unveiled as Gold Coast’s new coach next week, talk had linked Martin to a move north.
Hardwick was asked about a potential trade this week and baulked at the question.
But Gale said the Tigers weren’t keen on losing Martin and that the three-time Norm Smith medallist understood the legacy he could cement by playing on beyond 300 games in a Richmond jumper next year.
Martin played his 288th game against North Melbourne on Saturday, leaving him within striking distance of joining Kevin Bartlett, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards and Francis Bourke in playing 300 games for the Tigers.
“The speculation just goes on and on,” Gale told ABC radio.
“Firstly, Dustin is contracted, I will say that. Secondly, he is a really important part of our club for a bunch of reasons. Three, despite some of the challenges and despite our form and our inability to get the ball in the front half (this season), he is a very good player.
“He is not a bad footballer, Dustin Martin, and I just think he has looked back maybe the last couple of years with Edwards and Riewoldt and Cotchin and sees the important of legacy and history and what that means.
“He has the opportunity to play 300 games next year. He knows what that means at our football club. I just can’t see a scenario where he is not at Richmond.”
Freeing up salary was touted as one reason Richmond could move on from Martin, with the space used to turbocharge the club’s rebuild.
But Gale said Richmond would have room to move in the cap at the end of this season, with retiring pair Riewoldt and Cotchin off the books.
“We will have some space,” he said.
Gale said the club was looking to appoint Hardwick’s senior coach replacement around the grand final to allow the new mentor to oversee any trading or drafting in October.
Interim coach Andrew McQualter is on the club’s shortlist, with the likes of former captain Chris Newman and rising Collingwood assistant Hayden Skipworth alongside him.
HARDWICK SHUNS REPORTER’S DUSTY PROBE
Damien Hardwick says he is refreshed and ready for the “possible new challenge” of coaching Gold Coast after returning to Melbourne.
Hardwick finished up his European vacation and touched down in Victoria on Friday, spending time with his management as he works through a likely deal to lead the Suns.
The three-time Richmond premiership coach stopped short of declaring he would coach on the Gold Coast but it is expected he will be unveiled in Queensland as the club’s new coach next week.
Hardwick coached his last game in May before stepping aside from leading the Tigers, citing burnout.
But he told 7 News he is ready to take up his new job.
“Absolutely, I am looking forward to a possible new challenge,” he said.
“I have some things to work through and we will make a decision pretty soon.”
Hardwick said it was “great to catch up” with his likely new bosses, Suns CEO Mark Evans and chairman Bob East when they met recently in Milan to sell him on the club.
When asked whether he was keen to prise his superstar Tiger Dustin Martin out of Punt Road and up to the Gold Coast, Hardwick laughed and chose not to answer the question.
Hardwick will be at the MCG on Saturday as Richmond farewells heroes Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt in their final AFL games.
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