Reporter Damien Barrett says the reigning Brownlow Medallist has been the subjects of “an intensive AFL salary cap audit”.Mick Stirling
Sporting News
8 June 2018Don’t worry Richmond supporters, Dustin Martin hasn’t done a runner overseas in an effort to avoid prosecution over salary cap breaches.
Or at least I don’t think he has.
The Tigers superstar left the country yesterday, heading to New Zealand ostensibly to visit his father Shane, while also resting a calf injury that could keep him out until after Richmond’s round 14 bye.
But reports Martin is the target of an AFL audit over his income might have some fans worried he’ll never return, instead choosing the life of an exile with his already banished old man.
Reporter Damien Barrett says the reigning Brownlow Medallist has been the subjects of “an intensive AFL salary cap audit”.
“It’s resulted in his manager Ralph Carr being involved in some very robust conversations with the AFL watch dogs over this,” Barrett told The Footy Show on Thursday night.
“He’s one of a number of Richmond players from last year’s premiership to have his books analysed by the AFL [Total Player Payment] department.
“It’s only near resolution now. It’s taken a long time to get through.”
There’s no suggestion the Tigers are paying over the salary cap limit, although if they are to keep their young flag-winning team together, and possibly pick up out-of-contract Gold Coast gun Tom Lynch next year, there may be some very creative accounting required.
Martin famously turned down a massive financial offer from North Melbourne last year, rumoured to have been worth $300,000 more per season than the amount he settled on to stay at Punt Road.
However, the financial benefits that can be had at a massive club like Richmond will likely cover that gap and then some, with Martin’s tattooed body and Mohawk hairstyle already popping up to promote everything from football boots and pay-TV to underwear and high-end audio equipment.
Good friend and former AFL star Dane Swan said ‘Dusty’s’ contract decision came down to more than dollars.
“Richmond have been fantastic with him and they’ve allowed him to go over and see his dad as much as possible,” Swan told The Footy Show.
“I think that’s probably one of the main reasons he decided to stay at Richmond, because of how great Richmond has been in letting him go over three or four times a year to see his old man.”
http://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/afl-investigates-dustin-martin-and-richmond-tigers-for-salary-cap-reasons-audit/iyljcoly0kc61af7m7d68h1j3
