Dustin Martin's Potential Return to Footy
Richmond Tigers icon Dustin Martin has sparked fresh speculation about a possible return to Australian Rules Football, just months after his high-profile retirement. The three-time premiership winner was spotted in a serious training session with Collingwood legend Dane Swan, fuelling rumours that he is preparing for a comeback.
The 34-year-old, who hung up his boots at the end of the 2024 season, looked in fantastic shape during the kick-about with Brownlow Medallist Swan. Both legends ran through a series of drills, punting a footy back and forth while wearing distinctive blue and yellow boots.
Exhibition Match in the Northern Territory
According to reports from Northern Territory News, Martin is expected to feature in a one-off exhibition match next year. While discussions remain in early stages, the three-time Norm Smith medallist could turn out for Northern Territory Football League club St Mary's.
St Mary's coach Anthony Vallejo confirmed that planning is already underway, stating: 'It's early stages, we are trying to lock in a date that works with his schedule.' The match is set to feature several other AFL stars, including Willie Rioli, creating significant anticipation among footy fans.
Richmond's New Era and Number Changes
Back at Punt Road, the Tigers are navigating their post-Martin era after finishing in the bottom two rungs of the ladder in both 2024 and 2025. The club's rebuild has seen significant number changes, with rising star Sam Lalor inheriting Martin's iconic No 4 guernsey.
Lalor, who was the No 1 draft pick a year ago and won the club's best first-year player award despite hamstring injuries limiting him to just 10 senior games, expressed his honour at wearing the number. 'I look up to him a lot, obviously try to base my game off him a fair bit,' Lalor said. 'Hopefully, I can try and play a bit like him.'
Meanwhile, Jonty Faull was formally welcomed into Richmond's informal No 8 club by former members Dick Clay, Michael 'Disco' Roach and Jack Riewoldt. Faull, recruited at No 14, impressed in his 16 matches last season and will change from number 26 to the prestigious number 8.
Sam Banks also moves up from 41 to number 6 as part of the wholesale changes at Richmond, both on and off the field. The club is currently redeveloping its spiritual home at Punt Road, with the old Jack Dyer Stand now described as a 'cavernous hole'.
Despite predictions that the new-look Tigers might not win a game this season, they upset arch-rivals Carlton in round one and claimed another four scalps, showing promising signs for the future. As Roach noted after seeing the redeveloped facilities: 'We just walked through the gym - we only basically had one barbell, I reckon when we played. I can't wait... seeing the development going on, it's going to be great.'
