As rumours swirl round Dustin Martin’s future, AFL nice Dale Thomas has hit out at “weak” feedback in regards to the Richmond champion.
Martin has been in headlines this week with revelations “5 – 6” golf equipment have expressed curiosity in chasing his signature for 2025.
Martin is out of contract on the finish of this marketing campaign in a season the place the Tigers have fallen away badly to presently sit seventeenth on the ladder with only one win.
The 32-year previous has been linked with a transfer to the Gold Coast Suns to reunite with former coach Damien Hardwick, nevertheless, some near Martin reportedly imagine he’s “misplaced ardour” to proceed taking part in.
Watch each recreation of each spherical this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks throughout play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Begin your free trial as we speak >
The three-time Norm Smith medallist has additionally come underneath hearth in current weeks with criticism about his work charge and diminishing abilities.
Nonetheless, Thomas on Wednesday swiped again at Martin’s critics, saying it was “weak” to criticise Martin for any signal of type stoop on the age of 32.
Talking on Triple M, Thomas took a swipe at members of the footy media.
“Whenever you become older, you’re not going to be nearly as good as you as soon as had been,” he mentioned.
“The notion is that he nonetheless needs to be successful video games for the soccer membership. In the event you’re going to be criticising blokes, criticise the blokes who ought to have taken his spot and fulfilled the potential.
“In the event you’re going to have a go at anybody, have a go at a (Shai) Bolton or no matter. Skip the champion, that’s the simple reply as a result of it will get clout due to how good they’ve been.
“I believe it’s a weak course of making an attempt to clip blokes on the way in which out somewhat than have a good time them.”
It comes as Martin approaches his 300-game milestone, presently sitting on 297 AFL matches.
In accordance with stories the Tigers have authorized plans to have Martin rested from upcoming video games to be able to have his milestone match performed on the MCG in Spherical 14, somewhat than interstate.
Martin will reportedly not maintain a press convention nor do any media interviews within the lead into his main milestone, nevertheless he has agreed to be in a photograph with Richmond’s different 300-gamers — Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards, Kevin Bartlett and Francis Bourke.
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd has made a public plea for Richmond followers to show up in droves to have a good time Martin when he hits 300.
Lloyd mentioned it has been “unhappy” to see Martin’s 12 months unfolding because it has.
The Tigers haven’t received any of the eighth video games Martin has featured on this season.
“Somewhat than celebrating what’s to come back, he’s simply been underneath siege, extra so than I’ve ever seen in his profession earlier than,” Lloyd mentioned on 9’s Footy Labeled on Wednesday night time.
“He appears disinterested. Is he working exhausting sufficient?”
Lloyd went on to say: “This can be a man that in three weeks’ time, we needs to be celebrating him like Scott Pendlebury. As a result of Scott is contributing as nice as we’ve seen.
“I believe it’s actually unhappy.”
