Dustin Martin could return against Collingwood as Neil Balme defends club’s handling of ageing superstar

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Dustin Martin could return against Collingwood as Neil Balme defends club’s handling of ageing superstar

Senior Richmond administrator Neil Balme has squashed any talk of angst over superstar Dustin Martin’s recent absences from the club, declaring the Tigers will do “whatever is good for him and good for us” and hopeful he could be back on the field as soon as Sunday’s clash with Collingwood.

Martin, 33, hasn’t played since his 301st game in round 17, due to back issues, with his future beyond this season also clouded amid suggestions he could head to the Gold Coast Suns.

Richmond coach Adem Yze has repeatedly said he was putting no pressure on Martin to make a decision, a stance backed by Balme on Wednesday.

Some critics have suggested, however, that Martin needed to be pulled into line after it was revealed he travelled to New Zealand last week and then played golf on Wednesday when he got back.

But Balme jumped to the defence of the three-time premiership player, declaring the “wonderful contribution” Martin had made to Richmond demanded the club support him as the “mental fatigue” of dealing with a myriad issues of late, including his ageing body, took a toll.

“He will do whatever is good for him and good for us. With the wonderful contribution he has made, whatever he wants to do we will be supportive,” Balme said.

“He’s been a bit sore, so we’ve asked him what he wants to do. He said he was struggling a bit, so we said go see your folks then try and get some more footy out of yourself.

“We’re really happy with where he is. We wish he could play a bit more but he’s put a lot of time in and taken a lot of whacks during his career.

“I think there’s a bit of mental fatigue as well. He’s put a ***** of a lot of time into his footy and he’s had a few things he’s had to deal with outside of footy.

“We’ve got to help him get through it rather than put the pressure on to not be human. We are really happy with everything he is doing.

“We’re certainly supportive, he’s not a problem.”

Balme said Martin, who is back training this week, “expected” to play against the Magpies on Sunday.

As speculation mounts over what Martin, who is out of contact a the end of his season, does in 2025, Balme said he would be “very surprised” if he played anywhere other than Richmond despite the lure of joining former coach Damien Hardwick at the Suns.

“We’re hoping he plays next year, whether he does or he doesn’t is really up to him,” Balme told RSN.

“I’d be very surprised if he did it anywhere else apart from us. He creates his own story by not giving anyone a story. He’s been such a wonderful player and an unusual character in that he doesn’t like blowing his own trumpet publicly.

“We have a lot more people engaged with him to know what he’s thinking and what he needs to do to help him be his best. Whatever he needs, we will be providing, I can assure you. If he can play again, we are even happier for that.”

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