$2.6m question amid ‘very large chance’ Dustin Martin will leave Richmond

The rumour and speculation that Dustin Martin will leave Richmond is back although there’s a huge $2.6m question still to answer.

Is Dusty on the way out? Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Dustin Martin could be close to breaking Richmond Tigers fans’ hearts after reports he could move away from the club he’s spend his entire career.

The 31-year-old has played 267 games for the club and won three premierships, three Norm Smith medals for best on ground in the grand final and the 2017 Brownlow Medal.

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But the four-time All-Australian has long been linked to a move to Sydney.

Martin was seen training with NRL star-turned boxers Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams in Sydney after the death of his father Shane in December.

The Tigers star took time away from football on mental health grounds after round one and returned to play in round eight.

Martin is contracted at Richmond until the end of the 2024 season but the speculation has been rife that Martin will look to leave the club.

Martin was substituted out of Richmond’s 35-point win over West Coast and has already been ruled out of next week’s match against the Gold Coast, which was confirmed by coach Damien Hardwick on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

He added that he would be “doubtful” for round 18 as well.

Is Dusty set to go? Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

However, on 3AW’s Sportsday reporter Sam McClure said he wasn’t sure if Martin would stay at Punt Road.

“I think as we sit here right now there’s a very large chance Dustin Martin won’t be playing at Richmond next year,” he said on Sportsday.

“Sydney keeps getting mentioned … he’s had a love of Sydney and if he wanted to go there, they would move heaven and earth to make it happen.

“Damien Hardwick was on record not long ago saying if (Dustin Martin) wanted to go, he would go with (Hardwick’s) blessing.

“But he has two years left on his deal, so it’s easier said than done.”

Hardwick said after Martin’s personal leave that the star didn’t owe Richmond and Tigers fans anything.

“What I will say is he’s a very important player to our footy club, both on the field and off the field, and what he gives us, he’s paid us in spades,” Hardwick said at the time.

“Whatever Dustin’s decision is moving forward is up to Dustin and, to be honest, he has my blessing. What he’s given me, us, our fans has been incredible.

“Whatever we get from here on is a real bonus, from my point of view, so I just luckily, like the rest of us, get to see him on a weekly basis perform and train the way he does.”

Martin would be huge for any team. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Swans did comment at the time, with coach John Longmire saying Sydney hadn’t spoken about it.

Martin is reportedly owed $2.6m for the next two seasons, which would make it hard for any team to fit him into their salary cap.

For McClure, he said it would be a no-brainer for either the Swans or GWS Giants to go for Martin.

“You extend Dustin’s contract, that’s the easy way to do it,” McClure said.

“You pay him the $1.3 million for two years, you add two years out the back on not much money, and you get it done.

“A four year deal, give him the extra two. Say (to him) you’re probably gonna play at full forward. You conduct a situation where Dustin Martin and Lance Franklin are playing in the same forward line for a year – memberships sell themselves.”

Bombers legend Tim Watson said back in May that he believed the Tigers had had the discussion and that it was “on the table”.