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Dustin Martin is among the ranks Richmond veterans who got an extra few days off after the club AFL bye week
Without a game this weekend, the Tigers were given a mid-season break after the round 14 loss to Hawthorn saw them Martin celebrates his 300th game in front of 92,000 fans at the MCG.
WATCH ABOVE VIDEO: Dustin Martin gets extra rest after AFL bye.
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With most of the squad returning to work on Friday, Martin and a number of other experienced players were given extra time to freshen up.
But he was already at the club on Thursday before being claimed, according to 7NEWS Melbourne’s Theo Doropoulos.
“Martin was not there (Friday) but 7NEWS understands he was at the club yesterday completing a fitness session,” Doropoulos said.
“He has not been officially asked to return until early next week.
“Most of the squad took to the track for a light session at Punt Road (today), with training resuming after a four-day break.
“Several of the club’s veterans have been given an extra day or two to recover from a grueling first half.”
Speculation about Martin’s future was rife in what has been a tough year on the field for the Tigers and is on pace from his 300th last weekend.
The three-time Norm Smith medalist is yet to commit to playing at Tigerland or the AFL at all beyond this year, despite an offer from Richmond that has been on the table for some time.
Martin was emotional after the landmark match at the MCG and spoke to former team-mate Jack Riewoldt in a rare interview.
But questions over his future still remain, with Martin far from definitive when asked if he would return after Richmond’s bye.
“Yeah mate, freshen up after the bye, we’ll see how we go,” Martin said immediately after the game.
The 32-year-old did a short lap of honor to honor the huge crowd, many of whom had come especially to see the Tigers legend reach the milestone.
“The big question is whether the 300-game superstar will play the rest of the year after what felt like a bye against the Hawks,” Doropoulos said.
“But teammates and people around the club – some (are) confident, some hopeful, Dusty will make it through the season.”
That view is at odds with speculation that continues to swirl, with Carlton great Brendan Fevola certain that last weekend was Tiger fans’ last chance to see Martin in action in yellow and black.
“Dustin Martin did something I’ve never seen a 300-game player do before,” Fevola said on The Fox during the week.
“He did a lap of honor, pretty much. And Dustin Martin, who is a quiet guy, very reserved, very humble, he waved at 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 (to talk) and his great friend, triple title teammate Jack Riewoldt, got 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 going to come 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 drinking it after the game was him “thanking the lovely Richmond supporters”.
“You could see his eyes well up and he was clapping for everybody,” Fevola added.
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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