It is not a matter of “whether” Richmond champion Dustin Martin will play again, but a matter of “when”.

That’s according to senior Tigers advisor, and legendary football operations manager, Neil Balme.

Martin has taken leave from football to deal with personal issues, including the untimely passing of his father Shane in December.

The three-time Norm Smith medallist hasn’t played since Round 1, and questions have hovered over his future in footy, despite him being contracted to the Tigers until the end of 2024.

Balme said Richmond was “suffering” without Martin at the moment, but that when he returned, he would repay his team handsomely on the field.

“The ‘Dusty’ challenge is there, of course he makes us a lot better team if he plays, and do we want him to play? Yes, we want him to play. If we could make him play, yes we would,” Balme told RSN on Wednesday morning.

“But the thing that I’m proud of about footy nowadays – and our club particularly – is that we do take the person into account more than just the club.

“We know that if we do the right thing by him and allow him to work through his stuff then when it’s his turn, he’ll give back a lot to us as well.

“Now, we’re suffering for it at the moment, but that’s the price you pay.”

Balme wasn’t sure when Martin would return to Richmond’s senior line-up but said it would happen when the 2017 Brownlow medallist was ready.

“Because they’re his issues and we’ve allowed him and we’ll help him as much as he wants us to help him but it’s essentially up to him,” Balme said.

“It’s a personal issue with him that he’s got to get himself organised and we know he loves playing footy so it’s not a matter of whether (he will play again), it’s just matter of when.”

Richmond’s personnel issues don’t end with Martin, though, and Balme admitted injured co-captain Dylan Grimes (hamstring) would be missed, but he was looking forward to seeing a couple of stars returning this week to face the Western Bulldogs.

“I think (Dion) Prestia should be right to play, ‘Lamby’ (Kane Lambert) is getting a lot closer, I think Jack (Riewoldt) will be right to play, (Nick) Vlastuin is getting a lot closer as well,” Balme said.

Having only won two of their first three games, Richmond’s ability to be a premiership contender one more time this year has already come under question.

The manner in which they lost to Carlton and St Kilda were alarming as both teams piled on an avalanche of goals in the second half to overrun the Tigers.

But Balme remained confident that Richmond could win a fourth flag in six years.

“It’s always a challenge to manage where your list is from age and influence and when the kids come in and how you balance that, but we think we’ll be able to do it, we still think our best is going to be pretty good,” he said.

Balme conceded, though, that the Tigers were “ordinary” against the Saints on Sunday.

“It wasn’t much fun,” Balme said of the loss to St Kilda who kicked 10 goals in a row.

“I wasn’t able to go because I was Covid positive, so I’m sitting in the lounge room thinking, ‘What the hell is going on here?’”