Mark Robinson: If anyone’s earnt the right to take time to ponder their future, it’s Dustin Martin

Somehow, according to some media members, Dustin Martin’s future is a “circus,” yet the Tigers say he owes them nothing. Of course he doesn’t after turning them from a joke to a juggernaut, writes Mark Robinson.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 15: Dustin Martin of the Tigers embraces his agent Ralph Carr following his 300th match the round 14 AFL match between Richmond Tigers and Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 15, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

The denigration of Dustin Martin by parts of the media is bewildering.

Somehow, the 300-game legend of the AFL is now a “distraction” and a “circus” and creating “frustration” at Richmond as he ponders a crossroad moment of his footy career.

Clearly, it’s also a crossroad moment in his life.

It comes to all of us in our lives at some point. We either zig or zag. Or do neither.

Dusty’s decision is simple enough on paper: Retire, play at Richmond or join Gold Coast.

However, it’s not simple at all. Richmond has been his adult life, all 15 years of it, and now the relationship is nearing its end. Either next month or next year.

It’s a significant decision, yet parts of the media are clamouring for – and almost demanding – an immediate answer.

Let’s be frank. Few players in the history of the game have earnt the right to have all the time he needs to consider such a momentous decision. Dusty is one of them.

Dusty has earnt the right to take time with his decision, writes Robbo. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“What we need to remember,” his former skipper Trent Cotchin said, “is that there should be no expectation on what he does or doesn’t do, because what he’s given people like myself and supporters has been more than anyone could have wished for from one individual in our game.”

It’s a decision he hasn’t made yet. Or better still, he hasn’t divulged yet.

Presently, the Tigers say they don’t know and his manager Ralph Carr says he doesn’t know.

But apparently that doesn’t satisfy a media cohort, however important that he is.

He’s been accused of being a part-time footballer on $1.4 million.

He’s been accused of mentally checking out.

He’s basically being accused of putting Richmond in a state of suspended animation.

Parts of all that might be true, but should we care?

Certainly, no one at the Tigers does, which is paramount to this discussion. Because they know. The players know. The former coach knows. Martin delivered the Tigers three flags and without him the players and the former coach wouldn’t be three-timers.

No, the Tigers says Martin owes them nothing and that’s said with deep affection.

The money gibe misses the point. It’s in the final year of his seven-year deal, so while he might be overpaid for performance in 2024, he was underpaid through 2017-2020 when he turned Richmond from a joke club into a legacy.

An unconventional footballer in many respects, Dusty remains probably the least-known icon of Australian Rules. The mystery is his identity. And now it’s a distraction apparently.

Not the fact the team is on the bottom of the ladder, or Liam Baker might cut and run, or the search for a new chief executive has dragged on, or the Punt Rd redevelopment has stalled just as the Bulldogs unveil their Taj Mahal at Footscray.

No, Dusty’s the issue?

With the Tigers battling, some have called Martin’s situation a circus. Pic: Michael Klein

Commentator Matthew Lloyd this week called the Dusty situation a circus.

Curious to understand why, we called Lloyd so he could expand on his comments.

“The circus to me is every week it’s Dusty may play or may not, how much will he train,“ Lloyd said.

“The circus comment was also about where they’re at as a club. There’s so much uncertainty from the CEO change, the first-year coach, what’s Liam Baker doing, what will happen with Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton, do they stay or do they go, and Dusty (is part of all that).

“Despite how good he’s been for the club, to me from an outsider, it’s taking control back as a club (because) no one is bigger than the club.”

He indicated that first-year coach Adem Yze was too lenient with Martin.

“I’ve always wondered if Yze was Damien Hardwick and won three premierships, could he be firmer and say ‘no, no, no, we need to bring this to a head, I need to play for next year, I need to know my list spots. Is he training this week? Is he not training this week? I want clarity’.

Lloyd wants clarity so Martin can be celebrated.

“He’s played with mystery, he’s a mysterious man, but it’s one of the more stranger potential endings,” Lloyd said.

“I would love to see Dusty, his management and the club come together and do it in a more structured way that celebrates him, rather than it peter out the way it has.”

Carr dismissed the suggestion it was a circus.

“It’s not all,” he said. “Dustin said he will deal with it at the end of the year. The media is doing what they want with this. What’s wrong with a guy making a decision at the end of the year? Why does he have to make a decision now?”

The Tigers are tired of the media focus on their champion, and refute the suggestion the tail is wagging the dog.

Adem Yze continues to say Martin’s future is not a distraction. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Yze is asked at every press conference about Martin. He maintains Dusty is not a distraction. On Thursday he said: “The external noise … I don’t really care about.”

On Tuesday, veteran Tigers official Neil Balme said: “He will do whatever is good for him and good for us. With the wonderful contribution he has made, whatever he wants to do we will be supportive. We’re certainly supportive, he’s not a problem.’’

Tim Livingstone, the boss of football performance at the club, stressed this week that Martin had recovered from a back injury, was smiling, and was itching to play.

“He wants to play every game,” Livingstone said.

Observers of Martin have noted a change in demeanour – less stressed, more relaxed – since he returned from New Zealand. That trip was also fodder for those questioning the Martin situation. The truth is Martin sought and was given permission to go, and the club agreed that family was important to him at this point.

It was the same in 2017, when he and Carr visited Martin’s father in New Zealand, ahead of Martin deciding he would reject an offer from North Melbourne and stay a Tiger.

It’s certainly not uncommon to seek family nourishment at a period of indecision.

Yze said: “He wanted to get home, he needed to go and see some family while his back was bit grumbly, but the minute he’s walked back in, he’s got a smile on his face.”

Martin is at peace with whatever comes next. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

He is at peace.

Make of that what you will.

As the decision looms, the Tigers are trying to ignore the noise, but they are tired of it.

While senior Tigers football staff publicly stressed this week there was not an issue, one football journalist called another senior club figure and asked if frustration existed from the club towards Martin. The official said categorically no.

The journo still reported, however, that frustration was building internally. Maybe he had other sources. Nevertheless, the Tigers hated that comment. They believe a wedge is being unnecessarily driven between the club and Martin when one doesn’t exist.

The fact is Martin has the club’s blessing, And always will.