Dustin Martin image with Fox Footy powerbrokers ignites rumour mill

Dustin Martin’s future in the AFL remains under an intense spotlight with a recent image sparking rumours of a shock move.

Dustin Martin just can’t escape the spotlight.

The 33-year-old superstar announced his retirement from the AFL after playing 302 games with Richmond after the Tigers’ last game of the season.

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Martin’s retirement however didn’t stop the rumour mill from spinning with the 2017 Brownlow Medal winner linked with a move to joining the Gold Coast Suns.

Speculation ran rife that he would reunite with former premiership winning coach Damien Hardwick at the Suns but those rumours have gone cold since first coming to light.

Now however Martin is back in the thick of the rumour mill with one image of him out for coffee sparking speculation of a shock career shift.

Martin was spotted in South Melbourne with Fox Footy powerbrokers in a potential sign he could be set for a move behind the microphone.

Sitting at the table with the three-time Norm Smith Medal winner was Foxtel boss Patrick Delany, Fox Sports managing director Steve Crawley, former teammate Jack Riewoldt and his manager Ralph Carr.

Is Dusty set to join the media?

The images of Martin out for coffee with Fox Footy powerbrokers quickly went viral and sent the footy world into a spin.

“What’s going on here Dusty?” Dan Gorringe said on Instagram.

“Just having a coffee are ya casually? No no no, this isn’t just a coffee. This is bigger than that.

“That’s Steve Crawley the boss of Fox Sports, that’s Patrick Delany the big boss of Foxtel Group, Ralph Carr his manager and Jack Riewoldt.

“Is Dusty going to be a commentator? Is that what Fox Sports is doing here? We know they got Burgoyne from Seven, they just signed Hawkins … now we’re adding Dusty to the commentary box.

“I want to be a fly on that coffee table. I need to know what’s going on here because if Dusty is in the commentary box sign me up for that.

“Sign me up for Dusty in the commentary box.”

The commentary box could be getting a big addition.

A notoriously media shy operator throughout his illustrious career, the move would only bolster Fox Footy’s commentary stocks.

Signing Martin would come after Shaun Burgoyne was poached from Channel 7 with Tom Hawkins also joining the ranks after hanging up the boots.

Burgoyne had been part of Channel 7’s AFL coverage since 2022, but is moving across to Fox Footy, coinciding with the start of a new landmark rights deal signed by the Foxtel Group.

In a statement, Kayo Sports said: “Burgoyne is the first of several experts expected to sign with Fox Footy in new roles next season as they bolster their ranks to maximise the opportunity the 2025 rights afford them.”

Jordan Lewis, Cam Mooney, Brad Johnson and Jonathan Brown welcome Shaun Burgoyne to Fox Footy. Pic: Julian Fletcher.

Burgoyne’s recruitment is the latest footy media switch in an off-season that has seen plenty of movement.

Luke Darcy has announced he is stepping away from his media roles with Channel 7 and Triple M.

Channel 7 have gone on a recruiting spree, poaching Nick Riewoldt from Fox Footy and luring Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson from rival network Channel 9 in a bid to boost host broadcaster Seven’s footy analysis.

Whateley’s long-term AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson departed the program at season’s end. Fox Footy is yet to announce Robinson’s replacement.