AFL 2022: Dustin Martin returns to Richmond training, but when will he be available to play?

After spending time away from the club dealing with personal issues, Dustin Martin returned to Punt Road this weekend - and left those in attendance floored by his dawn training session.

Dustin Martin genuinely shocked Richmond players and staff with his surprise return to Punt Road on Saturday morning in what the club now hopes could be an imminent return to full training.

Martin has been in Melbourne for the past week after spending most of the past month in Sydney while taking time away from football.

His dawn session on Saturday morning came after strong talks with manager Ralph Carr late in the week.

Martin has been in some contact with Richmond official Blair Hartley in the past month but few other players or coaches on a regular basis.

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Dustin Martin at Richmond training earlier this year. Picture: Getty

Martin did a gym session and ran some laps and has been keeping himself in shape in recent weeks since leaving the club.

But his appearance will now turn attention to when he might be able to return to full-time football.

Even given his brilliant career at 30 he would likely need two weeks of full training to be able to withstand the rigours of a senior AFL game.

Richmond takes on West Coast in Perth on Friday night, with the players having Monday off and a half-day of reviews on Tuesday.

How soon could Damien Hardwick recall Dusty? Picture: Getty

But if Martin did return to training this week he might be some chance to take on Collingwood on Saturday week at the MCG.

Regardless, he can now work with the club on a plan to return to football in coming weeks.

Martin was at the club for around two hours on Saturday morning and spoke with some teammates in the gym, with a surge of energy at Punt Road given his return.

Richmond has been intent on giving Martin his own space as he grieves the loss of his father.

As his absence stretched to a month there were fears about what it meant for his stunning AFL career.

But Martin is genuinely loyal and loves his football, with the Tigers desperate to keep their season alive until he returns.

DUSTY MAKES RICHMOND RETURN

By Scott Gullan

He’s back.

Dustin Martin has ended his sabbatical with an early Saturday morning training session at Richmond’s Punt Rd Oval headquarters.

The triple Norm Smith Medallist ran laps and completed a gym session at the crack of dawn before his teammates arrived for their scheduled captain’s run ahead of the Anzac Day Eve clash with Melbourne.

Martin, 30, returned to Melbourne earlier in the week after spending time in Sydney as he dealt with personal issues which saw him walk away from the game last month.

Dustin Martin is back at Tigerland. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Tigers superstar is mourning the loss of his father, Shane, who died in New Zealand in December.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said during the week Martin was “in a better space” and he was more hopeful a return to playing was getting closer.

“We’re reluctant to provide a running commentary but what we do know is he’s in a better space,” Hardwick said.

“When we know more we certainly will give you guys more information but at this stage it’s the same as it has been.”

Martin was spotted working out at a friend’s gym in Port Melbourne on Easter Monday, raising hopes he will soon make a comeback with the Tigers after a self-imposed break.

The triple premiership star’s last game was Richmond’s opening round clash with Carlton on March 17.