Richmond superstar Dustin Martin is set to miss two matches if he pleads guilty to striking GWS’ Adam Kennedy during a fiery encounter on Saturday.
The midfielder ran past Kennedy and elbowed him in the head when he didn’t have the ball – in an attack that was assessed by the AFL to be intentional.
Martin is unlikely to challenge the decision because he’d face a three-week ban if he decided to fight the ban.
The ban means he will miss crucial games against Port Adelaide and Sydney.
The AFL are believed to be stepping in after superstar Dustin Martin (pictured) was caught on camera giving the middle finger
The Richmond player made the offensive gesture before tapping his nose and making a snorting motion in the middle of the game against Greater Western Sydney Giants on Saturday
The AFL will reportedly step in after superstar Dustin Martin was caught on camera giving the middle finger to an opponent during a mid-match argument.
The Richmond player made the offensive gesture before tapping his nose and making a snorting motion in the middle of the game against Greater Western Sydney Giants on Saturday.
The 27-year-old, who had missed a shot for goal in the second quarter, reportedly directed his physical slur and alleged drug reference at Giants’ ruckman Shane Mumford.
Martin is also understood to have said: ‘Have another f***ing line’.
The snorting gesture reportedly made reference to a video of Mumford snorting a white powder while being merrily goaded by pals.
The video is believed to be a few years old, but was unearthed in 2018.
The AFL will look into the on-field spat as part of a match review on Monday, according to a Channel 7 reporter.
At the time the video surfaced Mumford accepted a $25,000 fine and a voluntary strike under the AFL’s illicit drugs policy.
The snorting gesture reportedly made reference to a video of Mumford (pictured) snorting a white powder
Fans of the game had also taken to social media to slam the heavily-tattooed sportsman’s actions in the aftermath of the mid-match incident.
‘Dustin Martin might be good at footy but has no class,’ one wrote.
‘So we have idiots like Dustin Martin running around our footy fields in front of our kids. What a disgusting grub he is. Get rid of scum like this,’ another implored.
‘I’m offended by that middle finger by Dustin Martin,’ a third simply said.
Fans of the sport have since taken to social media to express their disgust at Martin’s gesture (pictured is Martin with New Zealand-born Victoria’s Secret model Maia Cotton)
Fans of the sport have since taken to social media to express their disgust at Martin’s actions
Martin, who had missed a shot for goal in the second quarter, reportedly directed his physical slur and alleged drug reference at Giants’ ruckman Shane Mumford (pictured)
‘Dustin Martin sending happy and wholesome thoughts,’ one user sarcastically noted.
A forth wrote: ‘Dustin Martin giving someone the finger? All class’.
The Tigers star also caused controversy elsewhere on the pitch.
During the match he elbowed an opponent in the back of the head as he ran past them, which resulted in a free kick.
Richmond football club may now also have a serious injury to contend with.
Jayden Short appeared to dislocate his elbow in the first quarter.
The Sydney Giants defeated Richmond by 19-10.
The controversial game from the Richmond star came just weeks after he spoke about suffering from depression after his stellar 2017 season
The controversial game from the Richmond star came just weeks after he spoke about suffering from depression after his stellar 2017 season.
A season that saw him lead the Tigers to their first premiership in 37 years after winning the Brownlow Medal just days earlier.
‘I found 2018 to be really hard, I woke with a weird empty feeling inside and it was really strange. I had everything I wanted and everything I dreamt of, but I didn’t feel fulfilled or happy,’ he told Executive Style in March.
‘Speaking up initially gave me more anxiety and depression as I kept wondering why I was feeling this way.’
‘I came to realise that the materialistic things in life don’t rate; it’s the small things that matter most.’
After being suspended Martin has been taken out of the running for the 2019 Brownlow Medal which can only be won by the best and fairest player for the whole season.
Any suspension immediately disqualifies a player from winning the coveted prize.
The Tigers star (pictured) is also expected to come under scrutiny from the AFL match review panel for another off the ball action