Richmond provides update on new Dustin Martin ‘struggle’ after 300-game milestone.

Richmond superstar Dustin Martin will spend more time off the field in the second half of the AFL season as coach Adem Yze navigates a series of short breaks between matches for his senior players.

After a mid-season bye, the Tigers (2-12) will play against old rivals Carlton at the MCG on Sunday, followed by an away game against Fremantle.

Yze stated that Martin, who turned 33 on Wednesday, would likely “struggle” to participate in both matches. The game against the Dockers comes after the first of three six-day breaks within five weeks and is one of two matches during that period involving travel.

“We’ll sit down with him and work out a plan,” Yze said of Martin on Thursday.

“He’s going to be one of those players that we’ve got to decide with (because) we’re starting to prepare for eight-day breaks and six-day breaks.

“If he plays this weekend there will be a high risk that he might not be able to play against Freo.

“So we’ll sit down and try to map out a plan for a lot of those older guys, and he’ll be one of those.”

Martin had a week off before his 300th AFL game, which ended in a loss to Hawthorn right before the bye.