St Mary’s coach Anthony Vallejo has confirmed the club is speaking with Dustin Martin about a football comeback.
The Richmond icon is reportedly interested in playing in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) in 2026.
As first reported by Code Sports, Martin is expected to return for a one-match cameo, most likely in Round 17 in February.
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That round is the penultimate weekend of the NTFL Premier League home-and-away season as clubs head towards the NTFL finals series.
St Mary’s, an NTFL powerhouse that has won the premiership 34 times, is widely expected to qualify for the finals with plenty of matches remaining this season — making Martin’s return relatively risk-free.
Rumours have swirled about the three-time Norm Smith medal winner’s plans to play in the Top End in recent weeks.
It would be his first taste of top-level footy since his retirement in 2024.
He would be following in the footsteps of other footy figures, including Collingwood great Dane Swan.
The Brownlow medallist last month made an appearance for NTFL club Waratah where they were spanked by 58 points by Palmerston Magpies.
Martin’s former premiership teammate Marlion Pickett also played 12 games for Tiwi Bombers during the 2024-2025 season.
Martin’s cameo would be the biggest coup yet from an NTFL club.
“It’s early stage, we are trying to lock in a date that works with his schedule,” Vallejo said.
It is not the sort of comeback many would have expected from the 34-year-old.
Rumours have continued to swirl about Martin’s interest in top-level football since Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick admitted in February the Suns had a list position open for him ahead of the 2025 season.
Hardwick said at the time Martin was not interested in extending his career at AFL-level.
The former Richmond coach said the club had been “in dialogue” with Martin about moving to the club in 2025.
But Martin instead chose retirement, with Hardwick insisting the “door has closed” on his former protege ever playing for the Suns.
“It was really in Dustin’s court whether he thought he had the ¬ambition to play,” Hardwick said in February.
“He loves the game, but he also loves the Richmond Football Club and he probably wanted to remain a one-club player.
“We as a footy club were really open to him extending his journey up here.
“I just thought, from our point of view: one, he can play, but two, he’s one of those guys you walk a bit taller with in your side.
“That door has closed now. I caught up with him a couple of weeks ago and he’s happy with life at the moment, travelling and doing his own thing. Where it ends up for him I’m not sure.”
Hardwick and Martin last month attended Daniel Rioli’s wedding when the Suns star tied the knot with DJ Paris Lawrence.
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