Dustin Martin confides in teammates as mystery surrounds his AFL future

Richmond reportedly stepped in to provide more guidance when a heartbroken Dustin Martin spoke to teammates about his personal situation.

Dustin Martin is going through a tough time. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Dustin Martin reportedly told teammates he was uncertain about continuing to play in the AFL as he continues to deal with the grief of losing his father last year.

Last week Martin was granted personal leave as it emerged he was heartbroken over the death of dad Shane, who passed away in December aged 54.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick confirmed on Monday night the club would give Martin all the time and support he needs to get through his personal issues.

“I think Dustin’s taking his time to figure out what he needs to move forward,” Hardwick told AFL 360.

“And as we’ve spoken about, he’s had a really tough six months, none tougher than what he’s had to deal with, first with the injury and then with the loss of his father. He just needs some time to heal.

“Grief is really like an injury, there’s no two ways about it, you have to get some treatment to make yourself heal, and he’s just taking the time to do that.

“His father was incredibly close to him, obviously from a parent point of view, but also his best mate so it was going to take some time, and we’re prepared to give him that. He’s such an important part of the fabric of our football club. We miss him, but not on the footy field, just in the club.”

Dustin Martin with dad Shane and mum Kathy at the 2009 AFL Draft.

Respected footy reporter Caroline Wilson also said on Monday night the Tigers were concerned about Martin when he told teammates he wasn’t sure about his future in footy, prompting the club to step in and suggest the three-time premiership winner take some time away from the game.

“What has emerged now have been the incredible highs and lows that have been hovering over Dustin and the Richmond Football Club since he came back after a lacerated kidney. The massive weight loss, the shock loss of his beloved father, Shane,” Wilson told Footy Classified.

“The club underestimated just how shattered he was by the loss of his father. Of course he visited him so many times since he was forced back to New Zealand.

“What was happening was Dustin would turn up in great form and great shape one day, and then he’d turn up the next day and he just wasn’t there emotionally. And this went on and on and on for weeks and weeks and weeks.

“Dustin confided in some teammates that maybe he was wondering whether he had the heart to continue to compete at the highest level and the club got really worried about this and forced a decision where they said, ‘Go away and get as much time as you need, because this isn’t working’.”

Martin is contracted to Richmond until 2024 and Wilson is confident he will make a comeback to the field later this season.

“It is a big thing to walk away from that amount of money, and no one is underestimating how hard it has been for Dustin Martin and everyone understands what Damien said about grief being like an injury,” Wilson said.

“The view of the club is, he is more likely to take as much time as he needs and I believe he’ll certainly be back by the middle of the year at the very, very latest.”

Dusty is a Tigers hero. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Martin and father Shane — a former top-ranking member of Australia’s Rebels motorcycle gang who was deported to New Zealand on the grounds of bad character — were extremely close and the Tigers star spoke about wanting to play in front of his dad and mentor again.

Last week Herald Sun AFL reporter Jon Ralph told Fox Footy: “My understanding is he (Martin) is just heartbroken by the loss of his dad, who of course was a mentor, and he hasn’t really been able to find a person to replace him.

“(He was) such an integral part of his life and just a great person to be a sounding board for him.”