SOCIAL media has struck again, and this time its Richmond Football Club’s young gun Dustin Martin being written and talked about.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Unfortunately it’s not about his form in the Tigers clash with the Indigenous All-Stars or form on the training track, but speculation about him on the verge of being sacked by the club.
Some commentators on social media have named Martin as being an AFL player at the centre of the ongoing drugs in sport investigation.
They are claims yet to be proven, but some believe they must be right.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick went to great lengths yesterday to angrily deny any suggestion Martin was on his way out from Tigerland.
The Tigers’ boss did not hold back when asked about the unfounded reports as to Martin’s future in the big league.
“It’s disappointing – social media, it’s un-Australian,” Hardwick said.
It’s not always been a smooth run since Martin, who is from Castlemaine, lined up for the yellow and black after being drafted from the Bendigo Pioneers.
In some ways Martin is an easy target for social media and this is not the first time it’s happened.
He served his penance, a two-match ban imposed by the club after being late to a training session last July.
A no-nonsense player, Hardwick has taken the same approach to coaching and in jumping to the defence of an exciting talent.