Dustin Martin Dismisses AFL Return Rumors

Dustin Martin, the Richmond AFL legend, has confirmed his retirement with a simple statement: he is 'happily retired'. After a 15-year career, Martin's retirement announcement followed an injury-plagued end to the season, and speculation about him potentially reuniting with former coach Damien Hardwick at the Gold Coast Suns had circulated. However, Martin's recent comments at the Tigers' best and fairest awards suggest he is not considering a move to the Suns, despite earlier discussions. Suns CEO Mark Evans acknowledged that Martin had reached out to the club, but former teammate Trent Cotchin expressed skepticism about the likelihood of a transfer. As the delisted free agency period approaches in November, it remains uncertain if Martin will change his current stance, but indications suggest that a return to the AFL is becoming increasingly unlikely.