‘It’s done’: AFL great drops bombshell Dustin Martin trade news

Dustin Martin’s AFL future has been at the centre of constant speculation, now a great of the game has delivered bombshell news.

Dustin Martin is set to join the Gold Coast Suns in 2025, according to AFL great David Schwarz.

The former Melbourne superstar said the move is all but locked in with Martin, 33, to link up with former coach Damien Hardwick.

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Martin’s future has been at the centre of speculation throughout the 2024 season with many pundits believing he will call time on his illustrious career.

Kane Cornes ignited the rumour mill in early April when he called for Martin to walk away and go out on top.

Those rumours reached boiling point ahead of his 300th game in June with hints he could hang up the boots on the spot following the contest against Hawthorn.

But the triple-premiership hero shut down those rumours during a post-game interview as he looked ahead to the remainder of the season.

Now his name is back in the spotlight with Schwarz pouring fuel on the fire surrounding a move north to join the Suns.

A Dusty and Dimma reunion is coming in 2025 according to David Schwarz. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images

“One-hundred per cent, Dustin Martin will be playing at the Gold Coast next year, for a two-year contract,” Schwarz said on SEN Radio on Tuesday.

“Yep, it’s done.

“You will see that he will be playing with the Gold Coast next year.”

Currently earning around $1.35 million in the final year of his contract, a new deal to join the Suns would be vastly different to what he’s become accustom too.

“I reckon you’ll find that he’ll play the majority of home games and travelling might not be a big option for him,” Schwarz said.

With plenty of the current season still left to play out, Schwarz believes a move to the Suns would be a win-win for all parties.

“He brings a bit of star factor, they want people through the gates, which is really important,” he said.

“Anybody who has played with Dustin Martin knows that he is a great leader about what he does on the training track, and what he does on the field.

“He’s not a big talker, but when he does talk, he commands enormous respect.

“For a young group, there’s only benefits that he brings.

Dusty’s time at Tigerland could be over. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“He’s got his outside life under control. He’s mature and his example is exactly what the Gold Coast need.”

Schwarz added: “He brings marketing dollars, he’s got a great relationship with the coach. He knows that (game) system.

“He’s goes up there in a playing and coaching role behind the scenes.

“It’s a win-win. Richmond will get a nice pick for him, he gets another opportunity.

“Everybody wins in this. Football wins, Dustin Martin wins, Richmond wins, Gold Coast wins.”

Hardwick added weight to Schwarz’s bombshell as he said the Suns would be “crazy” not to investigate the possibility of luring Martin to the club.

“Dustin’s a contracted player at Richmond. That’s obviously for Dustin to decide and Richmond to work their way through,” Hardwick said.

“He’s a really, really good player, there’s no doubt about that, and every single club would be crazy if they didn’t sit there and at some stage make an assessment.

“Like 17 other clubs, we’re always looking for good players.

“Gold Coast is no different. Those list management calls will get made at the back-end of the year.”

Dustin Martin to Gold Coast Suns is “done”. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

While the Tigers have remained tight-lipped on what Martin’s future has in store, Richmond officials have spoken openly this year about their desire for Martin to sign a new deal with the club where he has played all of 301 games.

Martin’s manager, Ralph Carr, confirmed recently a “number” of clubs had asked about Martin’s 2025 plans but an imminent decision was unlikely.

“We often have those discussions at the end of the year and we don’t like to talk about it during the year, so it’s one of those things,” Carr said.

With eight games remaining in the 2024 AFL season, Martin’s future will remain a hot topic of conversation as Richmond go through a rebuilding stage.

The Tigers have struggled with only two wins to their name, they’ll travel to Perth to take on Fremantle on Saturday night with Martin missing the contest.