I don't actually understand the talk about how much we pay Dusty. The deal was 7 years, we signed him because he is so damned good. I'm sure there was a distribution of the amount for each year to fit with salary caps and other contracts, so what we pay him in 2022 cannot be seen in isolation from other years. In any case, the deal was a total amount over the length of the contract really.
We all know Dusty was not at his best in 2022. There is the fact he is older, and the team is not as good as it was a couple of years ago. This is important because, as Dimma has pointed out on a number of occasions, Dusty can do what he does because other players are doing their jobs around him. Martin has never been a particularly defensive player, but that ain't what is asked of him, he is there to take attacking risks and break open games.
Then you have to add in the kidney injury, losing his father and the late season hamstring injury. All of these factors are significant on their own, add them together and it is hard to see the player having a good season.
Yes, Dusty was a bit quiet last night. But I thought he looked a bit less like he was carrying extra weight, although it is hard to compare TV vision to live vision.
I just hope he is happy to stay at Richmond and that football can bring him some happiness after what must have been a hard year.
DS