AFL 2024: Dustin Martin could miss Richmond’s opening round clash with Gold Coast

The one player Richmond didn’t want to be without as they go up against their old coach could be missing from the opening round of the AFL season.

MELBOURNE , AUSTRALIA. February 27, 2024. AFL . Collingwood vs Richmond at Ikon Park, Carlton. Richmonds Dustin Martin fends off Nick Daicos of the Magpies during the 2nd qtr. . Pic: Michael Klein

How he recovers from a “little knock” to his calf could determine if Richmond superstar Dustin Martin gets to confront former coach Damien Hardwick in the season-opening clash with the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday.

The Tigers will definitely be without Richmond captain Toby Nankervis who was ruled out with a foot injury.

Martin had scans on Tuesday after suffering a corked calf placing some doubt over whether the 32-year-old triple Norm Smith medallist would be ready for the reunion with Hardwick on the Gold Coast.

Richmond vice-captain Liam Baker revealed the scans came back “all clear” but Martin, who played his entire career under Hardwick before the triple-premiership coach quit last season, will be given until Thursday to prove his fitness.

“He copped a little knock but he went and had a scan and it’s come through all clear but it was literally an hour ago. So that’s all I really know,” vice-captain Baker said.

Dustin Martin could miss the start of the season. Pic: Michael Klein

“But he should be right. But thank God the scan came back all right.

“He’s pretty tough. So he should be right.”

Richmond fitness boss Luke Meehan said the club would “monitor him over the next couple of days” before deciding if Martin plays the Suns.

The Tigers are already without star forward Tom Lynch (foot), who is unlikely to return until after the Carlton clash while ruckman Nankervis could be back for Richmond’s Round 1 clash with Carlton.

“Toby’s been building his workloads over the last couple of weeks,” Meehan said.

“Everything’s going really well, really happy with how he’s progressing. Toby will be unavailable this week and he’s looking likely to play against Carlton.”