Dusty set to see out season amid doubt over AFL future

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Dusty set to see out season amid doubt over AFL future

Richmond superstar Dustin Martin is committed to playing out the remainder of the AFL season, coach Adem Yze says, amid ongoing speculation around his future.

After five weeks out with a back injury, Martin returned to action against North Melbourne on Saturday but couldn’t lift the Tigers to a much-needed victory.

They sit bottom of the ladder with just two wins for the year after the 14.6 (90) to 10.17 (77) defeat at Marvel Stadium.

Martin kicked 0.2 from 16 disposals and was lively early, but ran out of steam towards the end of the match.

It ******** to be seen whether the three-time Norm Smith medallist will play on next season – either with Richmond or another club – or call time on his glittering career.

“We’re always in ongoing talks and it was great to have him back in there today and for some of our younger players to play beside him,” Yze said.

“His knowledge and the way he sees the game is really strong and for Steely Green to learn off him on the run is just going to be invaluable for him.

“But we’re in constant dialogue with him about how his body’s feeling and how he’s going to finish off the season.

“He’s committed to finishing off the season and whatever happens after that will happen.”

Pressed on whether he felt Martin might extend his career, Yze could not give a firm answer.

“Not around whether he’s going to go on or not – it’s just around the fact he’s got some energy to finish off the season,” Yze said.

“That’s all I can ask and he showed some of the old Dusty moves today.

“He was a bit frustrated that he couldn’t finish some of his work, but he has had an interrupted couple of months really, so he got a little bit tired towards the end of the game.

“He’ll be better for the run and we’ve got an eight-day break leading into the St Kilda game so we’re really looking forward to him playing his best.”

Richmond’s loss left them one win and percentage adrift of second-from-bottom North, and in line for their first wooden spoon since 2007.

They would be the first premiership side to then finish last within four seasons since West Coast in 2010.

“The ladder position is irrelevant to us,” Yze said.

“What we’ve dealt with throughout the year has been pretty tough and our whole mindset around the last six or seven games is around finishing the season strongly for our fans.

“I felt like today they would’ve come to the game and felt the pressure and would’ve sensed that our players really care.”

“That side of it is evident, but our polish and our ********** is just off and we’ve just got to keep working on that.”

Inexperienced Richmond pair Steely Green (foot/toe) and Tom Brown (ankle/shoulder) were left nursing injuries with Green possibly out for the rest of the season and Brown facing further assessment.

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