Dusty all smiles as lowly Tigers face desperate Lions

Richmond coach Adem Yze says Dustin Martin (pic) is fully engaged in the club's direction. (Rob Prezioso/AAP PHOTOS)

Richmond coach Adem Yze insists Dustin Martin is walking around the club "with a smile on his face" despite a horror start to the season and ongoing speculation about the superstar's AFL future.

Martin, 32, is out of contract at the end of the year as the struggling Tigers face an increasingly difficult task to rebuild their playing list, with their golden era well and truly over.

The winds of change are also sweeping through the club off-field, with chief executive Brendon Gale the latest key pillar to confirm his departure through a move to Tasmania.

Martin is just four appearances away from the 300-game milestone but has been in the spotlight over a lean run of form as Richmond have managed just one win in nine games under first-year coach Yze.

Former Tigers captain Trent Cotchin this week questioned whether his long-time teammate has the desire to lead the club through a rebuild.

And Ralph Carr, the triple Norm Smith medallist's manager, posted a cryptic statement on social media declaring Martin "will always be the people's champion".

Yze on Thursday said a decision on Martin's playing future won't be made any time soon and maintains the 2017 Brownlow medallist is focused on the task at hand.

"We just want him training well and enjoying his footy, and that stuff will get finalised later in the year," Yze told reporters ahead of a clash with the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.

"Right now he's walking around with a smile on his face, he's helping our younger players that I've spoken about the last few weeks and he's really buying into our program."

Yze has copped criticism in recent days from prominent past players in the media, who have accused him of being too soft for saying his players' effort had been acceptable in a 91-point hammering from the Western Bulldogs last week.

Richmond coach Adem Yze (centre).
Richmond coach Adem Yze (centre) has come under fire after the side's thumping by the Bulldogs.

The coach blamed execution, rather than effort, for the heavy defeat and doubled down when asked about the criticism on Thursday.

"I couldn't fault our effort in and around the contest against a quality (side)," Yze said.

"We gave some opportunities to some younger players to play against quality midfielders in the second half, and I just thought their intent and effort was OK. It is what it is."

Earlier on Thursday, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan noted Richmond had been "under the blowtorch" all week and tipped a strong response from Yze's men.

The Lions' mentor conceded his own side's season is on a "razor's edge" following a slow start to the campaign.

Beaten grand finalists last year, the 13th-placed Lions have just three wins and a draw from nine outings.

"Our season's on a razor's edge because we lost a few early games, so every time we play is important," Fagan said.

"It's not the be all and end all (against Richmond); there's still plenty of the season left to go.

"But obviously every time you play, when you're in our position, you want to try to achieve a win."

The injury-smashed Tigers have been forced into four changes with Maurice Rioli Jnr (ankle), Jack Graham (hamstring), Seth Campbell (knee) and Sam Banks (concussion) sidelined.

Second-year player Steely Green will debut while Kamdyn McIntosh and Kane McAuliffe have been recalled and small forward Matthew Coulthard will play his first game of the season.

Brisbane's Noah Answerth returns from concussion, replacing Jaxon Prior (omitted).

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store