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AFL great Brendan Fevola believes there have been telltale signs after Dustin Martin’s 300th game that speak volumes for the Tiger superstar’s future.
Rumors of Martin’s possible retirement have been swirling for some time and three weeks ago Fevola said there was “mail” that Martin would retire after his 300th year.
“(Martin will) thank Richmond fans after his 300th year,” the goalkeeper legend said on The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick in May.
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“Take a few months off. Get in shape. Makes his head.
“His manager Ralph Carr is looking at real estate on the Gold Coast and I’m told Dusty needs to move and rekindle his friendship with Damien Hardwick, who is now the coach of the Gold Coast Suns.”
Now Fevola is doubling down on those claims.
Martin was emotional after the landmark match at the MCG and spoke to former team-mate Jack Riewoldt in a rare interview.
But questions about his future still elude Martin when asked if he will return after Richmond’s bye.
“Yeah mate, freshen up after the bye, we’ll see how we go,” Martin said.
Richmond is believed to have a two-year offer for Martin, but the Tigers are still waiting to hear back from Martin.
But three-time All-Australian Fevola believes Martin’s time in Tigerland is up and on Saturday he bid farewell to the Tiger Army.
“Dustin Martin did something I’ve never seen a 300-game player do before,” Fevola said.
“He did a lap of honor, pretty much. And Dustin Martin, who is a quiet guy, very reserved, very humble, he waved to everybody.
“He was applauding the crowd. He was really talking it up. I guess he was saying goodbye.
“I think there was something else in him… I think he cooked. He needs to rest his body.”
Fevola said Martin was an “absolute superstar” and “in the top five players probably of all time.”
“(The game) was a screenwriter’s dream. The first goal of the game was from the great Dustin Martin … and then it was gone,” Fevola said.
“That was all he did. I think he signed off.
“He didn’t give any interviews all week.
“No one could get him (for an interview) and his great friend, three-time Premier League teammate Jack Riewoldt, came down and interviewed him after the game.
“Now, this is the thing I’ve been fighting for with a lot of criticism … I was told he was going to be done after 300 games.
“He can play until the end of the year, but he will finish in Richmond until the end of the year.
“And he’s going to go play for Gold Coast for maybe a year or two – (he’s) going to sit in goal, get heaps of money and join Damien Hardwick … they’re the best of mates.
“The last question Jack asked was, ‘Are you coming back in a couple of weeks?’… Because last week was all over the place when he finished (retiring).
“He said, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll freshen up this week and we’ll be back.’ I don’t know about that.”
Fevola said Martin experienced it after the game “thanked the lovely Richmond supporters”.
“You could see his eyes welling up and he was clapping at everyone.”
Richmond’s final four games of the end of the year are against North Melbourne (Marvel), St Kilda (Marvel), Hawthorn (MCG) and Gold Coast (MCG).
“I don’t think it will last until the end of the year. No way,” Fevola said.
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