'Ineffective': Cornes baffled by Dusty's new role

Kane Cornes has npointed to a "warning sign" from triple premiership Tiger Dustin Martin's outing against Fremantle on Sunday.

The Brownlow medallist was utilised in a defensive role off the half back flank, a far cry from his days in the midfield, or even up forward.

Richmond went down by 54 points to the Dockers, with Martin collecting 23 disposals and five marks.

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Despite another strong showing from the premiership star, Cornes is now concerned that Richmond is wasting the ageing veteran down back, causing his ball movement to become "ineffective" due to his backline positioning.

"I thought he was ineffective," Cornes said on Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night.

"He's working hard and he's really looked engaged and he's demanding the football, but Dustin getting the ball here (half back flank), looking for cheapies (handballs) around the back, I don't need to see that – and spraying the footy.

"Dustin Martin's role was interesting. (It was) the first time I'd seen him come up the ground and look for cheap handballs in the back half, where we have not associated Dustin Martin with that at all.

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"I thought it was a bit of a warning sign."

Cornes is urging Tigers coach Adem Yze to trust Martin in the forward line, where his former coach, Damien Hardwick, played him during the 2023 season.

"I think the role he played last year, inside forward 50, getting kick ins (is the right one)," he said.

"His damage has always been front of centre."

The Port Adelaide champion is now worried that using Martin to run off half back will become the norm for the floundering Tigers.

"We've never seen that from Dustin Martin, getting disposals in the back half," Cornes said.

"Keep him inside 50, he does maximum damage in the front half. That's where he's going to be most useful for the Tigers.

"Give this (defensive) role to younger players."

Richmond sit 17th on the ladder, with just one win against Sydney, by five points, to their name.

They face off against the Bulldogs on Saturday night.