Dustin Martin’s Sydney rumour is back after Paul Gallen report

Dustin Martin has been spotted with an Aussie sporting legend — and it has brought back to life a rumour that won’t go away.

Dustin Martin. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Dustin Martin has been spotted working out with Aussie boxing machine Paul Gallen in Sydney.

The Richmond superstar has taken time away from football on mental health grounds following the death of his father Shane in December.

Martin has returned to training with the Tigers and is now expected to make his return to play against Collingwood in Round 8.

How he has spent that time away from football has now been revealed — and it is enough to put the rumour mill into overdrive.

The triple Norm Smith medallist has spent four weeks in Sydney and The Daily Telegraph now reports he has used that time to get back into the boxing gym.

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His training camp with Gallen has included boxing sessions at the former NSW State of Origin captain’s Cronulla gym.

It is the second camp Martin has held in Sydney recently after he also spent time boxing with code-hopping star Sonny Bill Williams during the off-season.

Dustin Martin with Tigers teammates. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

A blockbuster fight between Williams and Gallen is expected to be negotiated this year.

Martin also impressed Williams’ training team with his boxing prowess when his time in Sydney was revealed in November. Reports at the time claimed Martin continued to be attracted to the concept of moving to Sydney.

Now the rumours are back.

The Telegraph report details Sydney has become an even more attractive destination as a result of the lifestyle he has experienced away from the Melbourne fishbowl.

In a statement that is sure to shake the AFL, the report claims the Giants and Swans are both monitoring Martin’s situation behind the scenes.

The report speculates there is potential for Martin to be released from his Richmond contract on compassionate grounds.

It comes after reporter Tom Browne told Channel 7 on Friday night that there was a “faint possibility” that Martin could end up finishing his career with a Sydney club.

“I don’t think he’d lose anything from his Tigers legacy if he spent the last couple of his years up in Sydney,” he said.

“He spent the off-season in Sydney. He spent four of the last six weeks or so there with family. I still think it’s a faint possibility.”

Dustin Martin of the Tigers. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Martin remains contracted until the end of the 2024 season with the Tigers, but the situation has been clouded by previous comments from his agent Ralph Carr.

With the Giants desperate to land a marquee player and the Swans contemplating life beyond superstar forward Lance Franklin, the links with Martin have never gone away.

He was famously courted by the Giants with a reported big-money offer in 2013 — but chose to stay with the Tigers.

Carr said last year Martin had “two years to go at Richmond” — but Tigers CEO Brendan Gale responded by declaring Martin is locked in until the end of 2024.

“Dusty loves Sydney,” Carr said.

“He’s there a lot and he originally lived in Camden with his dad. You’ve got to live there to really know how good it is.

“He loves rugby league, too, and he was hanging out with Cameron Munster the other day.”

— You can read Phil Rothfield’s full Sunday Telegraph column here