Bombshell Dustin Martin conspiracy theory takes off after AFL trade
A Dustin Martin conspiracy theory is running wild after a big move during the AFL Trade Period that has caused outcry.
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A conspiracy theory about Dustin Martin returning to the AFL is running wild after Tuesday night’s bombshell mega-trade.
The biggest move of the annual AFL meat market dropped overnight with the Gold Coast Suns one of the key players.
It was widely reported last month the Suns had met with Martin, despite the Tigers champion announcing his retirement.
Martin reiterated this when speaking during the club’s best and fairest awards, saying he was “happily retired”.
However, Martin’s former premiership coach Damien Hardwick has reportedly been courting Martin to follow him to the Suns.
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The Suns’ mega-deal with Collingwood and Port Adelaide resulted in the club letting swingman Jack Lukosius and running defender Rory Atkins leave.
That has created a free spot on the Suns’ squad list. It has been speculated that spot could be filled by Martin.
The rumour was first reported by leading footy journalist Tom Morris on SEN Breakfast.
The trade with the Magpies and Power was a double win for the Suns, who picked up two first round picks in next year’s draft as well as dumping the salaries of Atkins and Lukosius.
It as reported last month Lukosius was heading into 2025 with $1.9 million and two years remaining on his back-ended contract.
It was also reported Atkins was set to earn $400,000 with the Suns next year.
“The Suns also get Rory Atkins off their books which gives them another list spot which has opened the door... for cynics or conspiracy theorists to suggest that spot will be for Dusty, which is a spot they didn’t expect to have a couple weeks ago.” Morris said on Wednesday.
“So there’s a number of different elements here. I think the Suns have done well to get picks in next year’s draft. And they’ve been busy and they had to be busy because they are trying to re-shape their list.”
It has been widely viewed across the footy landscape that Port Adelaide was the big loser in the trade that saw the club give up dual All-Australian Dan Houston and the club’s future first round pick.
Kane Cornes called the deal “disastrous” for Port Adelaide.
Dan Houston mega trade
Port Adelaide
Receives: Jack Lukosius, Joe Richards, Rory Atkins, picks 13, 29, 36 and 50
Gives up: Dan Houston, picks 39 and 58, 2025 first-round pick
Collingwood
Receives: Dan Houston, pick 58
Gives up: John Noble, Joe Richards, 2025 first-round pick, pick 36
Gold Coast
Receives: John Noble, pick 39, 2025 first-round pick from Collingwood, 2025 first-round pick from Port Adelaide
Gives up: Jack Lukosius, Rory Atkins, picks 13, 29 and 50
According to reports it was the Power that blinked first in the trade stand-off.
The club had earlier put a price tag of two first-round picks on Houston’s head, but the deal secured was nowhere near that.
Houston joins Collingwood after signing a six-year contract.
Lukosius’ deal with the Power is also for six years.
The Suns’ refusal to pay some of Lukosius’ wages was why Collingwood walked away from a Lukosius trade last month.
The so-called “salary dump” was one of many reasons Cornes said Port Adelaide had cut a poor deal.
The Power also picked up Rory Atkins from the Suns and Joe Richards from Collingwood.
“The Dan Houston trade’s gone down … it’s a disastrous deal for Port Adelaide,” Cornes said in a video shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“It’s like the scene in Pulp Fiction where he stands up and says, ‘Everybody be cool this is a robbery!’ That’s what’s happened to Port Adelaide here.
“You’ve essentially traded a dual All-Australian who you had on the contract for three years on good money — favourable money for Port Adelaide — for pick 13 and 29. That’s essentially what you’ve done.”
Originally published as Bombshell Dustin Martin conspiracy theory takes off after AFL trade
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