sport news Richmond left sweating on Dustin Martin's fitness as superstar is subbed off ... trends now
Richmond have been left sweating on the fitness of Dustin Martin, after the superstar midfielder was withdrawn with a hamstring injury against West Coast on Sunday.
Martin was instrumental in the first half of the Tigers' 20.8 (128) to 13.15 (93) win over at the MCG, finishing with 17 disposals, eight score involvements, four clearances and 359 metres gained.
However, he was substituted early in the third quarter with what coach Damien Hardwick later described as 'tightness' in his hamstring.
Dustin Martin (left) was subbed off early in the third quarter of the Tigers' win over the Eagles
Richmond did not shed any further light on the extent of the injury, insisting the substitution was merely precautionary instead. The Tigers play Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday and it remains to be seen whether Martin will be available.
'He was really good, electrifying, which was great,' Hardwick said of Martin's performance after the game.
'He had his agility back and the ability to move the ball and see the ground, you know, his kicking was A1 today also.
'It was a good game, a really good game.'
The superstar midfielder finished with 17 disposals, eight score involvements, four clearances and 359 metres gained in the 35-point win over West Coast
Richmond insisted Martin's substitution was merely precautionary and not a concern
Martin has been his usual influential self after returning to footy in Round 8 after a seven-week hiatus, helping the Tigers force their way into a finals spot.
The three-time premiership winner had taken time away from the game after the loss to Carlton in Round 1 as he struggled to cope with the death of his late father back in December.
Despite Martin's withdrawal, the
