AFL: Sydney Swans coach John Longmire said his club hadn’t discussed adding Dustin Martin amid speculation he wants to leave the Tigers

Rumours continue to swirl about Dustin Martin’s playing future and the Swans’ coach has addressed talk of a move north.

Could Dustin Martin leave Richmond at season’s end? Picture: Getty Images

Sydney coach John Longmire says the Swans “haven’t spoken about” Richmond superstar Dustin Martin joining them as speculation intensifies about a potential move north for the triple-Norm Smith medallist.

Comments from Tigers coach Damien Hardwick on Tuesday that Martin, who is contracted to Richmond for two more years, had his “blessing” if he wanted to leave the Melbourne fishbowl moved some commentators to declare the move was on.

But in addressing the situation on Wednesday, Longmire said no such thing had been discussed by the Sydney hierarchy.

“We haven’t spoken about him. I’m not sure where that leaves us other than the fact we haven’t spoken about it. It’s not something we’ve discussed,” Longmire said.

“If you look at the history of me commenting on players’ contracts, I don’t [even] comment on players from our club and their contract status. I certainly don’t comment on players from other clubs that are contracted, and don’t read anything into that either. It’s just not something I get involved in or talk about.”

Tim Watson: "In the time that Dustin (Martin) was away, I think they've had all these sorts of discussions, about what he's doing, how he's feeling, where he wants to play his football, where he may want to live.

"All those sorts of things, I think they've been on the table."

— SEN Breakfast (@SENBreakfast) May 17, 2022

Hardwick said he wouldn’t stand in the way of Martin, who has returned to football in the past fortnight after taking personal leave to mourn his late father Shane’s death in December, should he want to leave

Asked about that possibility on Tuesday, Hardwick said he hoped that would not eventuate but that the 30-year-old had already given the Tigers so much in his 263 games since being the No.3 pick in the 2009 draft.

Martin already rejected significant overtures from rival clubs to ink a seven-year megadeal in 2017, with North Melbourne going the closest to prying him from Punt Road.

The Tigers have loved having Dustin Martin back on the field. Picture: Getty Images

“What I will say is he’s a very important player to our footy club, both on the field and off the field, and what he gives us, he’s paid us in spades,” he said.

“Whatever Dustin’s decision is moving forward is up to Dustin and, to be honest, he has my blessing. What he’s given me, us, our fans has been incredible.

“Whatever we get from here on is a real bonus, from my point of view, so I just luckily, like the rest of us, get to see him on a weekly basis perform and train the way he does.

“He was a little bit sore last week – he’ll never put up his hand and say it – but coming back and playing his first game for five weeks, he was a little bit underdone, but he’s better again this week, which is really important.

“What I do know is he’s a Richmond player, a required Richmond player, obviously, and a very important Richmond player. I’m just glad he’s out there playing this week.”

Dustin Martin has endured a difficult period since his father’s death. Picture: Getty Images

Martin’s strong performances in the past two weeks have not surprised Hardwick, who holds the champion midfielder up as a standard-bearer to the club’s youth.

“He puts a lot into his footy. A lot of people see the outcome on the weekend and the result of the way he plays a game,” he said.

“But the way this guy prepares, both physically and mentally, is first class and it’s what the great ones do. There’s no coincidence that the amount of work he puts in gets rewarded with his on-field performance.

“He invests in himself thoroughly and he’s always looking at areas to improve, like even after today’s session, he does extra running just because that’s the sort of performer he is.

“We use him as an example for our young blokes. Listen, you want to reach that level? First of all, good luck. But the second one is, ‘This is the way you go about it’.”

Martin’s honour roll is extensive, including playing leading roles in three premierships, being a five-time All-Australian and dual Tigers best and fairest.

Originally published as AFL: Sydney Swans coach John Longmire said his club hadn’t discussed adding Dustin Martin amid speculation he wants to leave the Tigers