Richmond coach Adem Yze has no long-term worries about superstar Dustin Martin despite ruling him out of Sunday’s clash with Sydney due to a lingering calf issue.
Despite the three-time Norm Smith medallist being named for the match, Martin didn’t train on Friday morning and Yze said the club needed to “break the cycle” of him just getting through the week and ruled him out.
The 32-year-old copped a cork to his calf before the opening game of the season against the Gold Coast and was forced out.
He then played in the round 1 loss to Carlton and then again last week against Port Adelaide but was below his best.
Having picked up just 16 disposals across each of the first two games, Martin needed to return to full fitness, Yze said, and that demanded a rest.
“Dusty’s going to miss this week … he’s actually had an interrupted couple of weeks with his calf,” Yze told reporters on Friday morning.
“He didn’t train the other day and he’ll only do a little bit today, so we’ve got to just break the pattern of him getting through week to week.
“We’re going to break that cycle this week and give him a lighter week so that he’s pain-free.
“He’s just been battling a little bit the last couple of weeks with his calf and still trying to perform as he normally does.
“His first half last week was terrific, but you could see that he just gets a little bit sore, so we’re going to help him through that.”
Yze was confident the rest would allow Martin to be ready for the round 4 “Gather Round” clash with St Kilda in Adelaide.
“We want a 100 per cent fit Dusty, so to do that we’ve got to break the cycle by giving him a lighter week this week so that he’s pain-free next week,” Yze said.
Richmond is chasing its first win of the season against unbeaten Sydney and should be bolstered by the return of premiership defender Nathan Broad, who missed last week with a calf issue.
Injuries have hit the Tigers hard, losing Dion Prestia to a long-term hamstring injury and defender Josh Gibcus to a season-ending ACL through the opening few games.
But Tyler Young could return having overcome concussion suffered against the Blues, and Sam Naismith also looms as an inclusion to help captain Toby Nankervis in the ruck against red-hot Brodie Grundy.
Tyler Sonsie was also named in the Tigers’ extended squad and could make his first AFL appearance since serving a three-match ban for an ugly off-the-ball strike in a VFL game last year.