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The AFL will take no further action after video leaked of Richmond star Dustin Martin groping a topless woman’s breast during Mad Monday celebrations seven years ago.
The AFL’s integrity department had investigated the 2015 footage, which was deliberately leaked in the lead up to the Tigers’ elimination final showdown with Brisbane last September.
In the dated vision, the three-time Norm Smith Medallist can be seen reaching around the woman, who had her back to him, and touching her breast as she sat on a man’s lap.
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The woman involved did not make a complaint about Martin’s conduct.
Two months after the vision emerged online, the Herald Sun has confirmed Martin avoided sanction given the absence of a complaint from the woman involved.
The Herald Sun report says the AFL spoke to Martin about the 2015 incident, and determined no further action would be taken.
The event where the incident took place was not sanctioned by the club, but the Herald Sun reports the Tigers have spoken to Martin and “will continue to work with their star directly to ensure such an incident does not occur again”.
At the time the video leaked, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said Martin’s actions were “not a good look”.
“What I’d say at the outset is that respect for women is paramount generally. As a statement it’s clear across the AFL and unambiguous,” McLachlan told Seven News.
“(At) first pass the video, it’s a poor look, but I don’t have any further information, I only found out late last night. I don’t have any further information this morning about Dustin’s relationship to the woman, her views, the circumstances, the facts, and so without any information it’s hard for me to comment any further.”
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick described the video as “a little bit of a distraction” in the lead up to the final against Brisbane – which the Tigers lost by just two points in dramatic scenes.
Martin did make his return from injury in that elimination final, after a six week absence, but struggled to have his usual influence from just 15 disposals.
Martin wasn’t the only player to come under scrutiny this year for his actions towards women, with Collingwood star Jordan De Goey slapped with a $25,000 suspended fine for his Bali antics that emerged on social media.
De Goey was filmed engaging in “disrespectful” behaviour with a woman at a Bali nightclub during the Mid-Season bye.
But he avoided any suspension for his actions.
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