Dustin Martin fined over middle finger and snorting gesture

Tom Naghten

Dustin Martin fined over middle finger and snorting gesture image

Dustin Martin has been fined $7,500, $5,000 of it suspended until the end of 2020, for sticking up his middle finger and mimicking a snorting action at a GWS opponent on the weekend.

The star Tiger was hit with a 'please explain' from the AFL over the incident and was made to provide a written response.

Martin also publicly addressed the matter on Wednesday, taking to Twitter with an apology.

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"Frustrating one on the weekend!! I understand my reaction is not a good look for the game.. I apologise for my actions. Thanks," Martin wrote.


Martin made the gestures in a wild second quarter in the 49-point loss to the Giants.

The 27-year-old also appeared to say "have a f***in' line."

 

It's believed Martin was addressing opposition ruckman Shane Mumford who was returning from a two-match ban following the emergence of a video of him snorting a white substance.

Wednesday's fine follows Martin's appearance at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night in which he was successful in having his striking ban for an elbow on Adam Kennedy reduced from two weeks to one.

Martin was also fined $1,500 by the match review officer for an elbow to the guts of Matt de Boer.

Coach Damien Hardwick spoke out after the match about the treatment Martin got from his tagger de Boer and the rest of the Giants players.

Martin was held to just 15 touches for the match at Giants Stadium.

All in all a costly day for the 2017 Brownlow winner, who will now miss Richmond's clash with Port Adelaide, compounding Hardwick's personnel problems.

With injuries to Trent Cotchin and Jayden Short seeing them join the likes Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt, Shaun Grigg and Josh Caddy on the sidelines, the Tigers have their work cut out to turn around a 1-2 start to the season.

 

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.