Richmond star Dustin Martin returned to the headlines over the weekend after agent Ralph Carr fuelled speculation surrounding the midfielder's future when revealing the 29-year-old's love for Sydney.
Despite remaining contracted at Punt Road until the end of the 2024 season, Carr discussed Martin's affection for the Harbour City lifestyle in an interview with The Daily Telegraph'sย Phil Rothfield.
โDusty loves Sydney,โ Carr said.
โHeโs there a lot and he originally lived in Camden with his dad. Youโve got to live there to really know how good it is.
According to @Richmond_FC coach Damien Hardwick, Dustin Martin has managed to improve in the pre-season ๐https://t.co/49AwBBEjQi
— AFL (@AFL) February 20, 2021
โHe loves rugby league, too, and he was hanging out with Cameron Munster the other day.โ
The interview ignited speculation surrounding Martin's future with Richmond past his current deal, with Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale looking to quash any idea that the three-time Norm Smith medallist would depart the club after the 2024 season.
โIt was a very interesting article,โ he said onย Sportsday.
โIโm not sure of the veracity of the article, Dustin (Martin) is contracted to 2024 and there was (another suggestion that he wasn't contracted until then). What I will say is Dustin is extremely professional and a proud competitor.
"I can't put it into words how much I love this football club."
โ Dustin Martin#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/07oAlrxSke
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 28, 2019
โHe signed a seven-year contract for us at the end of 2017 and Iโm confident heโll play beyond that and my expectation is itโll be at Richmond.
โIโll leave it at that.โ
Martin has played 244 games for the Tigers since making his debut in 2010, winning three premierships with as many Norm Smiths as well as a Brownlow Medal.
