Richmond to decide on draft day whether to hand out Dustin Martin’s famous No. 4 guernsey

Richmond already have their hands full with a host of first-round picks in Wednesday night’s AFL Draft, but talks will be held over one more decision to be made on their famous No. 4.

Richmond will on Wednesday decide whether to shelve Dustin Martin’s famous No.4 jumper for one year or hand it straight to one of its top picks in the national draft.

The club on Tuesday remained split on whether to put Martin’s jumper on ice for one year, in part to honour the champion midfielder’s magnificent career at Punt Rd.

There is genuine belief it would be best to put it away for a period to avoid labouring the man the club will take with the No.1 pick – powerful midfielder Sam Lalor – with extra pressure.

Lalor has already been likened to Martin for his strong and damaging midfield game and there is thought giving him Martin’s jumper as well would only add to the hype and attention.

Richmond have a call to make on Dustin Martin’s No. 4 guernsey. Picture: Getty Images

The Bacchus Marsh bull and fend-off machine has power and acceleration in the midfield and can be devastating with his overhead marking forward. His dynamic midfield-forward game has drawn comparisons to Martin, one of the club’s greatest-ever players who retired this year after 302 games and three flags.

Instead, Lalor could be given the No.8 or No.9 jumper, worn by greats Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin, which were put away after their retirements last year.

But with as many as eight players about to join the list on Wednesday night with the extraordinary draft hand, the club was on Tuesday night considering whether Martin’s jumper should be handed straight out.

The sheer volume of players and jumpers required could force the club to wheel it out for 2025 as part of a bumper kickstart to the club’s rebuild under second-year coach Adem Yze.

The club on Tuesday night said a decision would be made on Wednesday after more talks and consideration.

Football officials could even ask Lalor, or one of the club’s other top picks, whether they would want Martin’s famous No.4 jumper, or prefer a different guernsey.

Richmond officials are already wary of the attention and focus the No.1 pick will generate, regardless of their number they wear for next season.

Sam Lalor could be handed Dusty’s famous number. Picture: Getty Images

The Tigers could also hand out Dylan Grimes’ jumper (No.2) as well as those of fellow departed Tigers Liam Baker (7), Daniel Rioli (17), Shai Bolton (29), Jack Graham (34) and Marlion Pickett (50).

Clubs have had different approaches on whether to hand over the jumpers of their icon players straight away, or to wait.

Hawthorn handed Lance Franklin’s famous No.23 jumper to Tim O’Brien the year the legendary forward moved to Sydney, Gary Ablett’s No.29 jumper at Geelong was given straight to Cameron Guthrie in 2010, and Max King took over St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt’s No.12 after two years in mothballs.

Richmond has picks 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23 and 24, but is expected to trade at least one of the later picks into next year’s draft.