Richmond legend Dustin Martin will not attend the Brownlow Medal count on Monday night, and will not take part in the retiring players’ motorcade at the AFL grand final.
The 33-year-old announced his immediate retirement in August but was recently the subject of fresh reports linking him with a move to the Gold Coast Suns.
Regardless of whether he does eventually decide to return to the AFL or stay retired, Martin will not be farewelled at the MCG on Saturday.
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Martin’s absence would almost perfectly replicate the steps taken by Lance Franklin following his retirement, when he called time in July and departed without any immediate public fanfare.
Franklin agreed to return to the SCG for a lap of honour at the Sydney Swans’ last home game before September, but then eschewed the spotlight in grand final week even as Sydney made the decider.
Three days before the premiership clash, then AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan all but begged Franklin to accept their invite for the motorcade.
This year, Martin was feted for his 300th game and banished retirement rumours when he played in the Tigers’ next game. But he suffered a back injury and was ruled out for a month, returning for an away game against North Melbourne and deciding to finish up on the spot.
The triple Norm Smith medallist then made it back to the MCG for a celebration at Richmond’s last home game — coincidentally against Gold Coast and his premiership coach Damien Hardwick.
Martin would have joined a handful of former Brownlow medallists at the count on Monday night.
Ben Cousins is in attendance, while dual winner Chris Judd is also set to attend for the first time in five years.
Saturday’s motorcade before the grand final is likely to feature several premiership players who have already played their last game.
Angus Brayshaw, Ben Brown, Nathan Murphy, Sam Reid, Brandon Ellis, Dylan Grimes, Marlion Pickett, Tom Hawkins, Zach Tuohy and Liam Shiels all called time this year.
It is unlikely that current AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon would make a McLachlan-style public play to get Martin involved given the uncertainty around the legendary No.4’s future.
But the famously private veteran’s expected absence from grand final week is equally unlikely to point towards what comes next.
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