D. Martin - Locked in.

[Trindacut]

A VERDICT on Dustin Martin’s penalty over the Chapel St chopstick incident could be handed down by the end of this week.

AFL and Richmond officials spoke on Monday and are expected to quickly adjudicate on Martin’s punishment.

Victoria Police released a statement last week declaring that “no criminal offence took place” between Martin and his alleged victim at the Mr Miyagi restaurant on December 5.

Despite calls from the likes of club legend Kevin Bartlett for Martin to be rubbed out of the game for 12 months, the star midfielder could yet line up for the Tigers in their season-opener against Carlton and instead receive a hefty fine.

Martin, 24, has already apologised for his drunken altercation with the woman at the Prahran restaurant after attending the Stereosonic music festival.

The AFL handed the case to police on December 10 after independent witnesses contacted the league and downplayed the woman’s version of events.

She alleged Martin threatened to stab her with a chopstick, but decided not to make a statement to police.

On ruling out criminal charges a Victoria Police statement said: “After reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to all parties involved, including numerous independent witnesses at the restaurant on the night, investigators determined that no criminal offence took place.

“Police take all reports of violence towards women seriously and investigate all complaints thoroughly.”

Still a forward in 2016, got to be a lock where there are few guns available for choosing.

[Southstorm]

I'll inevitably have him at some stage, but I don't think this is a year where you're going to be the worse off for not starting him.

[Sabretooth Tigers]

 ;)

If he is due to play in, or either before rd.3   he's a lock for me that I will carry for a couple of rds if necessary.
I think once he's got footy to think about he'll be fine, it's seems that is all he has and knows. I believe that this will really be his year provided the Tigers don't go Kevin Bartlett on him.
                                                                                  :)

[_wato]

If named, locked in Round 1. Crazy if you don't.

[ronl]

Opposition fans will be all over him early, you know, I can hear them now:  Way to go Chopper, Well-done Sticks, In his eye Dusty,
etc etc. And opposition players will have a thing or two to say along the lines of "hey Chopper is it better for you if I change into my dress first" really intellectual stuff, like that?  My guess is that Dusty is not usually on the receiving end ofsuch sledging attacks, so I'll be interested to see if there is a positive or negative reaction from him. If he gets angry he'll be reported for striking, if he makes believe he's not affected by it, that's all he'll think about and his game will suffer. Of course none of this is very important, just killing some time.

[fanTCfool]

He's my Brownlow Outsider, set to lock him in for fantasy too, can easily see him being the #1 Forward

[crowls]

Havent selected dusty since my first season in 2013.    This year he was probably a lock until recent incident.  I expect him to get a club suspension of 6-8 weeks and therefore wont be in my team but a probably upgrade.


As said above footy is all he has dont think the club can give him longer than 8 weeks without him falling apart.  He needs to get back on the ground and stay in the routine.  However he also needs to live with the consequences of his actions and deserves a min 6 weeks, maybe 8 weeks.

[_wato]

He won't get a 6-8 week suspension from the club, that is ridiculous.

As stated above in the article, at most he will receive a hefty fine. Remember, the 'victim' didn't press charges, witnesses downplayed the incident and said it wasn't as bad as was deemed, and he received no charge from Victoria Police.

How does that mean he gets 6-8 weeks suspension when he did nothing wrong? If anything, he displayed a small amount of public intoxication. Hardly worth that type of suspension.

[fanTCfool]

I Agree, I cannot see Richmond keeping one of their star players off the field when not forced to.
Obviously, the incident was very poor behaviour, but was a media beat up like all things, maybe a fine and the removal of his middle finger in case of future offences too.

[crowls]

He won't get a 6-8 week suspension from the club, that is ridiculous.

As stated above in the article, at most he will receive a hefty fine. Remember, the 'victim' didn't press charges, witnesses downplayed the incident and said it wasn't as bad as was deemed, and he received no charge from Victoria Police.

How does that mean he gets 6-8 weeks suspension when he did nothing wrong? If anything, he displayed a small amount of public intoxication. Hardly worth that type of suspension.

wato we will wait and see the outcome.   Sincerely hope it is not just a fine.  But certainly Richmond has the motivation to limit any penalty.

[Grufflez]

If Playing R1 lock him in, he should of copped something but let's be honest Richmond were never going to put the teams season at risk over one players actions, reminds me of the whole Steven Milne affair ( not in anyway the alleged crime itself) but more how a team will sweep anything under the rug for the ''greater good of the team'' approach, after all the fans deserve some results right???  ???

[kilbluff1985]

just because the witnesses say it wasnt as bad as people thought doesnt mean much the whole investigation was shady like anything the AFL does

[dottman]

Luke Hodge got nothing for a proven criminal offence, Dusty should get the same (Goose and Gander).

[Ringo]

Ben Cousiins anyone???? So yea maybe a fine at worst.

[Holz]

ok lets talk about the only thing that matters.

priced at 105, what do we expect him to average next year.

The reason im picking him is the guy just doesn't miss games. Only missed 4 games in his first 6 years.

Locked in my team