Dustin Martin: Richmond champion retires with immediate effect, ending storied AFL career

Dustin Martin has played his last AFL game, with the three-time Norm Smith medallist announcing his immediate retirement.

The Richmond superstar informed teammates of his decision on Tuesday morning, ending his storied career after 302 games which included three premierships and a Brownlow Medal.

“It is hard to put into words what the Richmond Football Club means to me, I love this place so much,” Martin said via a club statement.

“I will be forever grateful for the love and the support I have received from the people here.

“To my teammates, the brotherhood that we all share is what I value most as well as the bond with the staff and coaches… thank you to all of you.

“To my family and friends, thank you for your unconditional love and support.

“To the Tiger Army, I have always felt so loved and supported throughout my career and for that I will be forever grateful. The memories that we have created together will live with me forever. Thank you.”

There had been speculation around a potential move to Gold Coast - and reuniting with long-time coach Damien Hardwick at the Suns - for next season, but Martin has opted against prolonging his distinguished career and will remain a one-club player.

Martin retires with a legacy of one of football’s greatest-ever big-game performers.

The powerful midfielder is the only three-time Norm Smith medallist in history, having been crowned best afield in each of Richmond’s modern-era premiership wins in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

The 2017 season was the high-water mark for the former No.3 draft pick, leading the Tigers to a breakthrough flag and romping to a Brownlow Medal win with what remains an equal-record 36 votes.

Outgoing Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale paid tribute to the three-time premiership star.

“So much has been said about Dustin’s impact on our club and the competition, but more than anything, and put simply, I think it is the joy that he gave the Tiger Army and those around him that might mean the most,” Gale said.

“Three premierships and best on ground in each of them will always be his legend, and rightly, it, along with his unique aura, will be what he is best remembered for.

“But I think Dustin would be most proud of what he was able to achieve playing for a team… for our team — and the magnificent role he was able to play within that system, which let him be every bit the footballing genius that he was always destined to be.

“That genius was most evident when the stakes were at their highest, when the crowd was at its loudest, when all eyes were on him, and when the moments needed a hero.

“Dustin did it his way, and we are all just so lucky to have been Richmond people during his era of dominance. So, all I can say on behalf of everyone associated with our great club is thank you to an icon. To our icon.”

Martin earlier this season drew a massive stage for his 300th game, with a bumper crowd of 92,311 turning out to the MCG to pay tribute to the champion.

He kicked the first goal of the game in typical style -the 338th and last of his career - in what would ultimately be his final match at the home of football.

“It means the absolute world to me, and all the love I received this week has meant the world to me,” Martin said after the game. “I felt so loved this week. I appreciate it.”

Having secured the first of four All-Australian berths in 2016, Martin exploded the following year - and became an Australian sporting phenomenon.

Martin became renowned for his ‘don’t argue’ manoeuvre to fend off would-be tacklers, and his rise to the triple-medal achievement of Brownlow, premiership and Norm Smith fuelled a craze of imitation Dusty haircuts among fans.

The notoriously media-shy star exits the game in a similar fashion to Lance Franklin last year, with no press conference upon announcing his retirement.