A Dustin Martin-Damien Hardwick reunion on the Gold Coast remains a possibility, with the champion’s days as a Tiger reportedly coming to an end.
Channel 9’s Tom Morris reports of the three scenarios facing Martin — stay at Richmond, move to Gold Coast or retire, the former is the least likely outcome.
It’s believed the Martin camp is pushing for a move north more than the Suns are lobbying to land him, while the 33-year old would need to take pay cut of up to $1 million at Gold Coast.
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“I understand the Suns are open to the idea but not yet wedded to it,” Morris reported on Channel 9.
“If it did come to fruition, Martin would arrive n pursuit of a flag and would likely need to take a pay cut of up to $1 million.
“His manager Ralph Carr told me Dusty is weighing up his options. But I’ve spoken to multiple people close to Dusty and they believe his time at Punt Road is coming to an end and he’ll either join the Suns or retire.
“That’s my strong belief too, that he has no more than a handful of games remaining in yellow and black.”
Martin was subbed out of Richmond’s loss to Carlton on Sunday due to a back issue.
SAINTS WOKING ON KING EXTENSION
A Max King contract extension at St Kilda looms despite speculation the star forward could be put up for trade in a showing of faith from the club.
King has come under stinging criticism amid he and the Saints’ underwhelming form in 2024.
But the Herald Sun reports the former Pick 4, who turns 24 on Sunday, and his manager Robbie D’Orazio have been in talks with St Kilda about a “significant” extension beyond 2026, which he’s currently contracted to.
The deal will reportedly make King one of the highest paid players at the Saints and put to bed any talk of a trade.
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“A lot of trade speculation about him at the moment. I don’t think he leaves the Saints, in fact, I think they tie him up with a long-term contract extension,” Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“We can tell you talks have been going on for some time, Max King is all in on St Kilda.
“(It’s in) advanced stages, I think it could be finalised quite shortly, if not advanced.
“He’s already contracted to 2026, that’s two more years, so they’re going to take him out to the best part of 2030. That says from St Kilda: ‘We want you’, and vice versa.”
King, who’s booted 159 goals from 83 games, produced a career-best 52 majors in 2022. But he’s since gone backwards, bagging 28 goals from 11 games last year in a season disrupted by injury and kicking 19 goals from 12 appearances this year.
The Saints are reportedly confident King can bounce back, with the club targeting more explosive midfielders to sharpen its forward 50 delivery.
“He’s not in great form, you just wonder whether that knee is still bothering him … players don’t offer this up a lot of the time. It just looked like there was something going on there,” Clark added.
“He needs help and you know Ross would be saying: ‘We’re going to get some explosive ball winners and speed up that movement’.”