Richmond celebrity Dustin Martin will make his eagerly-anticipated AFL return in opposition to Collingwood, with coach Damien Hardwick saying the Tigers had been by no means involved he would retire.
Hardwick confirmed if Martin obtained by coaching on Thursday he could be a starter for Saturday’s conflict on the MCG, two weeks after he recommenced coaching. The triple Norm Smith medallist has not performed since spherical one after taking private go away.
“We’re trying ahead to welcoming him again and hopefully he has an affect for us on the weekend, which we’re positive he'll,” Hardwick mentioned. “He’s going to be not at his optimum, however he’s actually skilled fairly exhausting, as exhausting as he might with out being in a staff setting.
“We’re pleasantly shocked by how he’s transferring and the way he’s working up to now. However we’re taking part in one of many hardest video games on the earth, so we’ll degree our expectations, we’ll simply put him on the market and see how he goes. At 50% Dustin Martin’s nonetheless a reasonably good participant on our books.”
Martin has been grieving the demise of his father Shane, who died in New Zealand in December, having returned to motion this season from a lacerated kidney that ended his 2021 marketing campaign in spherical 18.
“Not from our standpoint [we weren’t worried he wouldn’t come back],” Hardwick mentioned. “He’s in an excellent house but it surely’s like anybody that’s had a lack of their finest mate and their father, there’ll be ups and downs.
“We assist him, we perceive that and we’ll proceed to supply assist the place we want. He’s continued to work on what he must get the perfect out of himself, but it surely’s difficult for those that have gone by such occasions. So we simply wrap our arms round him as finest we are able to and permit him the house and time he wants.”
The 30-year-old returned to coaching at Punt Street on 23 April. Hardwick mentioned Martin was trying match and beforehand “put his hand up” to return every week earlier, in opposition to West Coast final Friday. Martin in the end missed the 109-point demolition of the Eagles however accomplished a giant session at Punt Street that day.
“Simply him strolling within the door final week was a major enhance to our membership and hopefully we’ll get the identical affect when he walks on the hallowed turf of the ’G this week in entrance of our followers,” Hardwick mentioned.
Martin’s return is well timed. Richmond, who're 3-4, sit ninth and one ladder spot behind fierce rivals Collingwood, who're 4-3 of their first season below former Tigers VFL boss Craig McRae. Former captain Trent Cotchin is because of return after being managed however Dion Prestia is “uncertain” after sickness, together with being substituted out final week.
In the meantime, dual-premiership Tiger Josh Caddy has retired, efficient instantly. Hardwick mentioned after continual hamstring issues, the “selfless” 29-year-old had retired to present the Tigers an extra listing spot for the mid-season draft. Caddy performed 174 AFL video games for Gold Coast, Geelong and Richmond however none this season. He performed within the breakthrough 2017 premiership and claimed a second flag in 2019.
Post a Comment