The father of AFL superstar Dustin Martin has died in New Zealand. The circumstances of his death are not yet known.
Dustin Martin’s father Shane has died.
Shane Martin passed away in New Zealand.
The news was confirmed in a statement from Martin’s Richmond football club on Saturday morning.
“The Richmond Football Club is mourning the passing of Shane Martin,” the club said.
“The club extends its heartfelt sympathy to Dustin, his brothers Bronson and Tyson, and the entire Martin family in this extremely difficult time.”
The circumstances of his death are not yet known.
The 54-year-old was deported from Australia in 2016 on the grounds of bad character.
He was alleged at the time to have a connection to the Rebels Motorcycle Gang.
The football club posted on its official website: “The club extends its heartfelt sympathy to Dustin, his brothers Bronson and Tyson and the entire Martin family.
“We ask the media to respect Dustin and the Martin family‘s privacy in this extremely difficult time.”
The two-time Brownlow medallist was in April granted permission to visit his father in New Zealand in the middle of the AFL season.
Shane Martin had lived in Australia for more than 25 years before his visa was cancelled in 2016.
The family of Shane Martin all live in Australia, including his wife Adriana.