Richmond great Trent Cotchin has opened up on Dustin Martin and spilt the beans on a private battle that could be behind his form slump.
Speculation has been building surrounding the future of Martin as Richmond sit second last on the AFL ladder.
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While a normally dominant force on the field, the 32-year-old’s form has followed that of his club with his numbers well below his usual output.
He is averaging 19.4 disposals this season, compared to a career average of 24.4 over 15 seasons, and has kicked just four goals.
It’s his recent struggles that have led many to believe the time to walk away could be closer than expected.
Cotchin however believes the 2017 Brownlow Medal winner has what it takes to turn it around and says the loss of his father Shane in 2022 could be behind his recent struggles.
“He’s definitely capable of it — I just don’t know if, (given) the place he is in right now, whether he’s got the energy to do so,” Cotchin said on Talking Footy.
“It’s hard to comment too far on what he’s going through, but since his old man passed away, it’s been a challenge for Dusty.
“Probably getting himself right is the absolute priority, and I know that the club’s helping him with that.
“So, to put such a commitment on someone who needs to get himself at his best is a big call and going to be challenging.”
Dusty is a modern day great of the game having won the Norm Smith Medal in three Richmond premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Sitting on 296 games and off-contract at the end of this season, Martin is earning around $1.35 million this year and it’s unclear if he will play on in 2025.
Martin’s manager Ralph Carr released a rare and cryptic statement on X on Wednesday surrounding his place in the game.
“Will always be the people’s champion,” he wrote.
“Three flags, three Norm Smiths, one Brownlow, all-Australian, MVP, cannot be wrong…”
Carr told News Corp last month: “Dustin at this point has no intention of retiring, and he has never lost his love for AFL football.”
Kane Cornes ignited the rumour mill when he suggested in April that Martin should walk away from the game following this season.
He hasn’t backed down from his stance and turned the blowtorch onto Richmond over comments surrounding a possible contract extension for Martin.
“Footy clubs aren’t a charity,” Cornes said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
“(Richmond coach Adem Yze) has been pretty adamant, he’s said a couple of times one of the jobs he wants to tick off is to extend Dustin Martin’s contract.
“Is that the right call?”
Matthew Lloyd jumped in first, questioning the type of money Martin could earn if he continued on into 2025.
“Adem Yze has to be stronger than he’s ever been before about what is best for Richmond,” the Essendon great said.
“And I’m not sure spending $750,000 on Dustin Martin is best for Richmond.”
AFL journalist Caroline Wilson immediately jumped on that figure.
“There’s no way they would spend that money on Dustin Martin,” she said.
“$500 (thousand) absolute tops. At the moment he’s limping towards 300 (games). He wouldn’t get any more than that, I am certain, if he’s playing the way he is now.
“He’s limping towards 300 and the way he’s playing now, you probably wouldn’t offer him another deal.”
Barring any injury setbacks, Martin could play his 300th game against the Crows in Adelaide during round 13.
Source Agencies
