By Sam McClure and Jon Pierik
Dustin Martin reached out to the Gold Coast Suns last week to express interest in playing for the club in 2025.
By Friday, he was on the Gold Coast meeting with mentor, friend, former coach and Suns head coach Damien Hardwick.
The renewal of talks between the triple Norm Smith medallist, arguably the greatest Tiger of all time, and the Suns happened quickly, but until then, it had been a slow burn for both parties.
Dustin Martin played his last game for Richmond against North Melbourne on July 30.Credit: Getty
After more than a year of conversations, Martin ultimately decided not to formally request a trade to the Suns at the end of 2023. Then 32, he had a year left on his monster contract at Punt Road.
He wanted to be loyal to the club that drafted him, and wanted to play his 300th game for the yellow and black.
He achieved both. The triple premiership player played his 300th in front of a massive crowd of more than 90,000 at the MCG and whipped the Tiger army into a frenzy with a Dusty special: a long-range goal on the burst.
After what felt like an emotional goodbye following his milestone match, where he was interviewed by fellow premiership hero and close mate Jack Riewoldt, the rumour mill cranked up again.
By this stage, Gold Coast and Martin’s manager, Ralph Carr, were discussing terms for a potential playing contract for 2025 and, maybe, beyond. Two sources close to Martin, who could not speak publicly due to the private nature of the negotiations, said they had initially discussed a two-year contract.
Martin hobbled off during a 10-goal loss to Carlton in round 17 and played one last match in round 22 against North Melbourne, the team that made him a massive offer before the Tigers’ drought-breaking 2017 flag.
Three days after the Kangaroos game, Richmond released a statement in which the club, not Martin, announced his retirement.
In carefully worded quotes, Martin thanked the Tiger army for their years of support and paid tribute to the club and his teammates, but he didn’t say he was finishing.
The club was more explicit.
“Martin has retired with immediate effect,” the last line said.
Richmond people were desperate for Martin to remain a one-club player.
But he has privately conceded to friends more than once in the past 18 months that a change of scenery may benefit him, both personally and professionally.
The opportunity to finish his career in Queensland or even NSW (don’t rule out a late swoop from the Swans) was always of interest to one of the greats of the AFL.
Martin has been overseas for much of the past month.
So when he picked up the phone and reached out to the Suns last week, things had changed.
In the previous weeks, the view of the club and Martin’s camp was that he was likely to commence retirement next year, but the European holiday and a mental break appeared to have rekindled in Martin the idea of extending his career.
When asked on Friday about the latest developments, Gold Coast football boss Wayne Campbell told this masthead: “We can confirm that Dustin has had a conversation with the club, and we will both be engaging in further conversations to work out whether it’s a good fit for the Gold Coast Suns and for Dustin.”
Martin, who played 302 games for the Tigers, could join the Suns as a free agent, and people close to the enigmatic superstar have indicated his desire to play for the Gold Coast is not about money.
The average AFL player salary in 2024 was a tick over $440,000.
Any deal involving Martin playing for the Suns in 2025 is likely to see him earning less than that.
The Suns will need to manage their salary cap carefully.
They have star players in the prime of their careers, like Ben King, Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. They have just re-signed Mac Andrew on one of the biggest deals in history.
Another Richmond premiership player in Daniel Rioli has asked to be traded there.
So a deal is not certain.
But the fact is Dustin Martin wants to play AFL football in 2025 and the Suns have expressed an interest in making it happen.
Carr did not wish to comment when contacted by this masthead.
Roos explore trade for Eagles forward
Meantime, as the official trade period approaches, North Melbourne have met Jack Darling and will pursue a trade for the West Coast forward.
Darling, 32, has a year to run on his contract but is keen to begin afresh, should a deal be brokered.
A source with knowledge of the situation, who did not wish to comment publicly because of the sensitivity of a potential deal, said Darling had met the Kangaroos, and the club was keen to pursue a trade.
Eagles key forward Jack Darling.Credit: AFL Photos
The Kangaroos are open to paying the bulk of Darling’s wage next season, and will offer him a multi-year deal, which could help to ease the amount owed to him next year.
Premiership player Darling has played 298 games, including 21 this year. The Kangaroos currently have draft picks two, 22, 40, 58, 67 and 76 to use in a trade.
Darling is no longer the focal point of the Eagles’ attack, with skipper Oscar Allen and All-Australian Jake Waterman enjoying that role, while the Kangaroos know they need to find help for full-forward Nick Larkey, who was an All-Australian last year with 71 goals but had a more modest 46 this season.
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