How it came about: Dusty’s footy return confirmed

Richmond champion Dustin Martin will return to a local footy fielding 2026.

Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary is reporting that the three-time Norm Smith Medallist will suit up for the Port Douglas Crocs in early May.

Martin last played competitive footy in August 2024 - his final game with the Tigers.

It was reported in the Herald Sun in February that Dusty was on the verge of signing with Yarrawonga in the Ovens & Murray League but the Pigeons said at the time they hadn’t yet spoken to him.

However, Port Douglas will be rocking on May 2 when the Crocs host the South Cairns Cutters at the Port Douglas Sporting Complex.

The Herald Sun revealed that “former Tigers match day board man Tony Singarella was one of the key drivers of the move” which comes after Dusty’s premiership captain Trent Cotchin donned Crocs colours in 2024.

“I had heard he may have been interested in playing footy again and had been training and got really fit,” Singarella said.

“I reached out and he knew my connection with Port Douglas and was comfortable with me and the club.

“The fact that his good friend and captain Trent Cotchin had played at the Crocs two seasons ago and had enjoyed it and was well looked after was a factor.”

The Crocs finished the 2025 AFL Cairns home and away season on top of the ladder before crashing out in the Preliminary Final.

Fellow Brownlow Medal winners Gary Ablett Jnr and Dane Swan have also played one-off matches in Cairns in recent years.