‘He’s in pretty good shape’: Dusty primed for return next week
RICHMOND football boss Neil Balme is hopeful superstar Dustin Martin is “over” a lot of the issues that forced him to take a break from the game and he will be back playing as soon as possible.
Martin was ruled out of Friday’s clash with West Coast after making a surprise return to training last Saturday on his own before joining his teammates on the track this week.
The three-time Norm Smith medallist hasn’t played since Richmond’s round 1 loss to Carlton after which he stepped away on personal leave to grieve the loss of his father Shane, who died in December.
Balme said Martin’s return was always going to be on the player’s terms, and so to see him back was a sign he was ready to play.
“He seems to be in pretty good shape. Mentally he has got himself over a lot of the issues he has had,” Blame told RSN on Thursday.
“We’re very positive about what he’s going to do. That will work itself out. There’s no decision on when he’s going to play. That will be sooner rather than later I’d think.
“We’d always had pretty close contact with him, but we were letting him run the show to a degree because it was all his issues. We’re just happy to see him.
“He’s not saying much, but he’s pleased to get back in the routine, that’s all we need.”
Balme said Martin’s teammates were relieved to see him return in a positive state of mind.
“They are all good mates are were concerned about him, so they are happy to see him back,” he said.
Martin was ruled out of a playing return against the Eagles on Friday because of his extended time away, but he could return in round 8.
“It is great to see Dustin back at training,” Richmond’s general manager of football performance Tim Livingstone, said.
“The boys are excited to have him back.”