Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has stated the Tigers are unsure of what Dustin Martin's future holds as the superstar midfielder is eased back into the swing of things.
Martin returned to Tigers training at Punt Road on Saturday morning to the surprise of the club and his teammates, taking part in a light session as Hardwick prepared his side for Sunday's clash with an undefeated Melbourne outfit.
The club's star man has been absent from his duties for the past month, stepping away from the game on a leave of absence and venturing interstate while the club supported him from afar.
Having now made his return to Melbourne, and moreso Tigerland, intrigue into Martin's potential comeback has ascended. However, Hardwick remained cautious of the 30-year-old's timeline when speaking to media after his side's 22-point loss to the Demons.
"It was good, it was nice to see him," Hardwick said.
"I can't tell you [if he'll be back this week]. I'm not sure. Once we know, you'll know."
The Tigers will travel to Optus Stadium to face the Eagles next Friday in hope of snapping their two-game losing run, having dropped to 12th after the opening six rounds.
Whether Martin will be on the flight to Western Australia is still unsure to Hardwick, while the Tigers are likely to move their magnets for the trip interstate.
Promising midfielder Thomson Dow was subbed out of Sunday night's loss after suffering a suspected quad injury and could be in doubt for the contest.
Veteran onballer Kane Lambert is in the frame for a return after recovering from a hip setback sustained in the pre-season.
Lambert has featured in the VFL in recent rounds but was not required for Richmond's reserves this weekend, potentially given the short turnaround for the West Coast clash.
