How footy superstar Dustin Martin has set himself up for life with a multi-million-dollar property portfolio - as retirement looms

While speculation continues to swirl over the playing future of AFL star Dustin Martin, one thing is for sure: he won't be short of a dollar when he does retire.

The Richmond Tigers star played his 300th AFL match last week, but his immediate future is doubt.

While the three-time Richmond Tigers premiership player told former teammate Jack Riewoldt he would return next season, former Carlton star Brendan Fevola has twice predicted that his 300th game was the last for the club.

Fevola said that Martin would retire after the milestone, but could make a comeback in 2025 with the Gold Coast Suns, where his former coach and good friend Damien Hardwick is now in charge.

'There's a lot of rumours about him and next year, whether he will retire or play somewhere else,' Fevola said on his radio show Fox FM's Fifi, Fev & Nick.

'My mail is that he will retire after he plays his 300th game. Say thank you to the Richmond fans after his 300th.

'Then have a couple of months off. Get fit. And get his head right.'

Richmond has the bye this weekend and it remains unknown if Martin will line up against Carlton in round 16.

It is understood Martin's manager Ralph Carr has been shopping for houses on the Gold Coast for his star client, and that would add to a bulging property portfolio that shows that the Richmond star will be set for life, no matter his decision.

Martin and Carr already own a series of warehouse-style buildings in Richmond. Their properties stretch from 23 Butler Street to 37 Butler Street, covering nearly 900 square metres.

Butler Street is located close to Victoria Street, known for its Asian restaurants and grocery stores, and less than two kilometres from the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Martin helped the Tigers win premierships in 2017, 2019, and 2020.

Martin and Carr co-own the Butler Property Group, which they established in 2016. 

The group focuses on buying office and retail properties in Richmond, where commercial property values have risen as businesses move from the CBD.

In 2021, Butler Property Group No.3, including Gold Coast businessman Chris Bissiotis as a co-owner and director, bought a refurbished warehouse at Butler Street for $1.275million.

Their first purchase on Butler Street was in 2016, when they acquired a warehouse at 29-31 Butler Street for $2.2million. In 2018, they bought another warehouse on the street for $2.915 million.

Martin, who won the AFL's Brownlow Medal in 2017, also owns a renovated office building in Victoria Street, purchased for $3million in 2019. 

Along with Carr and Bissiotis, he co-owns a retail and office property on Victoria Street in Abbotsford, bought for $4.8million in 2020.

In 2021, Martin bought a beachfront apartment in Port Melbourne for $1.7million. The luxury home has two bedrooms and offers stunning views of Port Phillip Bay.

Martin and Carr continued their investment spree in 2022 by purchasing a fourth commercial building on Butler Street. They, along with a silent partner, bought the two-storey commercial building at 23 Butler Street for $2.75million at auction.

While the Gold Coast Suns appear in the box seat, Carr recently admitted several clubs had asked him about Martin's availability in 2025.

'Yes, a number of them,' Carr said

'We often have those discussions at the end of the year and we don't like to talk about it during the year so it's one of those things.'