Dustin Martin's former manager Ricky Nixon advises young Tiger to stay at Richmond Jon Ralph
From: Herald Sun
September 18, 2013 DUSTIN Martin's former manager Ricky Nixon has advised the star Tiger to stay at Richmond given the club’s bright finals prospects.
Nixon negotiated the two-year $900,000 deal for Martin that is now ending, with talks breaking down on a new contract on Monday.
All of Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will chase Martin hard, but Collingwood yesterday said they were not a contender.
Nixon said yesterday Martin had every right to play hard ball to win top dollar, but believes leaving Richmond would be a mistake.
“I would say to him, 'Richmond is the best place for you'," Nixon said.
"If he stays there, he is going to play finals for the next five years unless something drastic happens. He is well paid at the moment, but he can be better paid. He is pursuing the maximum dollars from Richmond, but with some massaging the contract can be altered so Dustin gets what he wants. He should be staying.
"The only thing he needs to improve upon is his run, which he is doing, and he will be a bloody good player in the next few years, and will also grow up maturity-wise. He is still a boy, still a lad, but he is growing up.’’
Martin’s management told the Herald Sun on Tuesday night there had been no change to the impasse between player and club since Richmond indicated Martin was pursuing offers from other clubs.
But many clubs are scared off by the resources it would take to manage Martin away from the football field.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has urged Martin to stay at Punt Road, while club legend Kevin Bartlett said his current deal was over the odds and hoped he remained.
Nixon said he advised clients never to move to a Melbourne rival for less than $150,000 more a season, and up to $250,000 if the move was interstate.
“Sometimes agents get caught up in trying to prove to the player how good they are. You have to make a decision for your client, not for yourself,’’ he said.
‘’You wouldn’t move to another Melbourne-based club unless they are a chance of a premiership, offer a minimum of $150,000 more or a longer-term deal, and can provide additional networks to you outside football.
‘’You are taxed at 48 cents in the dollar and if you are moving interstate you need to re-settle and get another place and it’s not worth it unless it's for $250,000 more.’’
Nixon said players like Martin should not be criticised for winning the huge deal he is currently enjoying.
‘’People need to understand when GWS came into the competition three years ago they were in a position to make him a pretty good offer, and he looked like being the next big thing. I think he has taken a big step.
‘’But there are plenty of guys getting over and above what they might deserve because they are only in the game for a short time. If he breaks his leg next year he is out of the game.’’
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/dustin-martins-former-manager-ricky-nixon-advises-young-tiger-to-stay-at-richmond/story-fndv7pj3-1226721281762
