“It’s not over”: Schwarz still certain Dustin Martin plays on as a Sun

David Schwarz is still certain that retired 302-gamer Dustin Martin will play AFL footy in 2025 for Gold Coast.

Martin retired from AFL footy in August, just one month after Schwarz initially proclaimed that he will ‘100 per cent’ play for the Suns in 2025 on a two-year contract.

While Martin didn’t join the Suns during the trade period, he can still join the club as a delisted free agent which runs from November 1 to 8.

Schwarz thinks that the former Tiger is still in discussions with linking up with his three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast and he is still certain he’ll play for the Suns next season.

“We’ve got a couple of weeks. Just sit back and relax, it’s not over,” Schwarz told SEN Mornings.

“I’m sure they’re still in discussions, let’s wait and see.

“I never said it was going to happen in the trade period, he’ll be at the Gold Coast next year.

“When he retired, I doubled down and I stuck to what I said very early on that he’ll be playing for the Gold Coast Suns.

“I’ve said it millions of times, it’s great for footy and it’s great for Gold Coast.

“Richmond got every drop out of him, so I don’t think there’s any losers.”

Martin told Nine reporter Tom Morris that he was ‘happily retired’ when asked at Richmond’s Jack Dyer Medal count earlier this month.