Dustin Martin's 2024 playing status has been revealed, while a contracted Demon is reportedly "all but certain" to depart Melbourne in favour of an interstate rival.
Movement conjecture has clouded Martin's Richmond playing future since ex-coach Damien Hardwick landed Gold Coast's top job, with many linking the pair to a reunion on the Sunshine Coast next year.
However, appearing on Seven's Talking Finals on Wednesday evening, Hardwick spoke in no uncertain terms about where Martin would be playing his football next season.
The three-time Tigers premiership coach also detailed his plans to lure ex-disciple Alex Rance to the Gold Coast, after he recently poached Geelong assistant Shaun Grigg, who played under Hardwick in Richmond's 2017 flag triumph.
"It was a bit naive of me, to be perfectly honest, I thought we'd just go to a quiet pub and have a think, but that pub was as busy as Bourke Street, and it took me thirty seconds before somebody took a photo," Hardwick started, explaining the grounds of his recent Gold Coast rendezvous with 'Dusty'.
"Then I caught up with Alex Rance, and we're trying to get Alex to do some work at our football club in the leadership space, and just some work with our defenders as well ... He looks like he could still play, no question.
"Look, Dustin's going to stay at Richmond," Hardwick categorically stated.
"I think, personally, [in] my opinion that was the right thing for him to do, and he's going to stay at Richmond, which is [an] enormous positive for that footy club. Look, me, like 17 other coaches, would love to have him on my side, no question, but the fact of the matter is it's great that he's going to play his 300th game at the Richmond Football Club next year."
Meanwhile, Melbourne ruckman Brodie Grundy, who remains out of the Demons' finals outfit, is reportedly a near certainty to don Swans colours next season, with Seven reporter Mitch Cleary explaining the domino effect involving Jordon Sweet and Port Adelaide.
"They (Port Adelaide) have, so they've now targeted Zerk-Thatcher, Ratugolea, and Jordon Sweet out of the Western Bulldogs, he's been the backup for Tim English, he'll be the number-one ruck next year at the Power, it means Grundy is now all but certain to head to Sydney," said Cleary.
"Out of the footy bubble in Melbourne, I guess Adelaide's a fishbowl as well, so Brodie Grundy looking like he's headed to Sydney, having met Port Adelaide and met the Swans in the last few weeks, it looks like the Power are sort of now falling behind the Swans."
This year's exchange period commences on October 9.