Dustin Martin, Tigers to challenge AFL suspension

Richmond have confirmed they will front the AFL tribunal in a bid to downgrade Dustin Martin’s two-match suspension for striking.

Martin will miss Richmond’s games against Port Adelaide and Sydney if he is unsuccessful at Tuesday night’s hearing.

The superstar midfielder was sanctioned for elbowing GWS opponent Adam Kennedy off the ball during Saturday’s loss to the Giants in Sydney.
A challenge had always been likely given there is no extra penalty if Martin is found guilty.

While the Tigers are long odds to have Martin’s ban overturned, they will be hopeful of having his ban reduced to one game.

The incident was classified as intentional conduct with medium impact to the head, despite Kennedy playing out the remainder of the game.

Match review officer Michael Christian noted that a range of factors had gone into the “medium impact” grading, including the potential to cause serious injury.

Martin has accepted a $1500 fine for striking his tagger Matt de Boer, who Richmond coach Damien Hardwick suggested had needled Martin into losing his cool.

Separate to the match review findings, the AFL’s football department has also issued Martin a please explain for two abusive gestures and a verbal sledge that he directed at opponents.

Martin has until Tuesday afternoon to respond and the AFL appears likely to fine him.

With captain Trent Cotchin sidelined because of a hamstring injury, Saturday’s away game against the Power looms as the first time that the Tigers will be without their top four players since Martin made his AFL debut at the start of 2010.

Alex Rance is out for the season with a knee reconstruction and Jack Riewoldt is recovering from a wrist injury.

Martin is the only player facing suspension from round three. Port Adelaide duo Scott Lycett and Zak Butters and Fremantle key forward Jesse Hogan all accepted $2000 fines.