How Dustin Martin stood out from other footy stars at the Brownlow Medal ceremony with one simple act
While the Brownlow Medal is typically a gala evening for footballers and their partners to dazzle the red carpet, Richmond Tigers star Dustin Martin took a very different approach to the event.
The three-time premiership winner and Norm Smith medalist has been notoriously reclusive since the death of his father Shane in 2021.
His Twitter and Instagram accounts have been silent for almost a year and Martin rarely, if ever, speaks to the media.
So while other players and their WAGs took the spotlight on the red carpet at the 2023 Brownlow Medal ceremony, Martin was quickly spotted slipping into the venue via an alternative entrance.
Martin was caught rushing into the Crown Palladium Ballroom through an alternate entrance to avoid media attention on the red carpet
Other Richmond players had no problem posing for the cameras, including Daniel Rioli with Paris Lawrence (left) and Tim Taranto and Tash Hoole
Paparazzi only managed to get one photo of the Tigers flag winner that night, unlike virtually every other star in attendance.
Given intense speculation that the 2017 Brownlow Medal winner will switch clubs and embark on a relationship with former coach Damien Hardwick at the Gold Coast Suns, it is unsurprising that Martin wanted to keep a low profile.
Martin was also at the center of rumors linking him to Elli Johnston, the wife of former NRL player Brett Finch.
The Richmond star was in a relationship with Johnston and rumors are swirling that they are romantically involved again – which a well-placed source has denied.
“Dustin is 100 percent single,” the source said. ‘He’s not in a relationship with anyone at the moment. He just wants to concentrate on his football.
‘Dustin and Elli wish each other nothing but the best. They have both moved on.”
The source also added that there was no bad blood between Martin and Finch.
“Dustin hasn’t spoken to Brett in years, but there have never been any bad feelings between them.”
Martin dated Elli Johnston for about nine months about a decade ago, with a source denying they had rekindled their relationship
Former NRL star and commentator Brett Finch is now married to Elli Johnston but has not spoken to Martin in years
Martin, 32, is under contract with Richmond until the end of next season but that has not stopped ongoing speculation that he will join the Suns to reunite with Hardwick.
That speculation was fueled by an image released two weeks ago showing Martin and Hardwick dining together in a Gold Coast pub.
“It was a bit naive of me to be honest, I thought we were going to a quiet pub but that pub was busy,” Hardwick told Channel 7’s Talking Finals.
“It took about 30 seconds for someone to take a photo.”
But the former Richmond coach is confident Martin will stay with the Tigers.
“Look, Dustin is going to stay in Richmond. Personally, I think this is absolutely the right thing for him to do,” the coach said.
“He’s staying at Richmond, which is a huge positive for that football club.
“I would love to have him on my side, as would 17 other coaches, but it’s great that he will be playing his 300th game for Richmond Football Club next year.”
Martin was spotted enjoying a meal with former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick at a pub on the Gold Coast
Martin and Hardwick forged a strong relationship at the Richmond Tigers, where they won three AFL premierships together
Wherever Martin ends up in 2024, he may be forced to be less reclusive when it comes to media commitments.
The new AFL Collective Bargaining Agreement was announced last week, including proposed changes to players’ media availability.
Under the new proposal, all players named for the previous week’s match will be available to the media the week after the match.
This could possibly mean that Martin will be forced to appear regularly in the media.
Paul Marsh, CEO of the AFL Players Association, says clubs, who can protect the availability of player media, need to get their heads around the adjustment.
“There will be circumstances where for whatever reason it is not appropriate for a player to do media within a week,” Marsh told SEN Breakfast.
“The promise here is that it’s not that hard. It is a place where we have been active for a while and the clubs will have to respond to this.’