Richmond star Dustin Martin enjoys career-year after signing contract extension Jon Ralph
Herald Sun
July 02, 2014 THE irony of Dustin Martin’s September contract impasse is that he now deserves the figures he so publicly demanded last year.
Martin would eventually sign a two-year deal worth around $480,000 per year after being shopped to GWS and Essendon and denied a considerable pay rise.
For weeks the 23-year-old seemed on the brink of departing, and given his history of trouble some Richmond fans were far from shattered.
Nine months later Martin is a certainty for his fourth top-four finish in five years — and perhaps his first Jack Dyer Medal.
In a season where little has gone right at Punt Road, he has been the ultimate success story.
Martin is maturing into one of the league’s most damaging footballers and is so settled that contract talks for him to stay at Richmond long-term next year seem a formality.
He loves the club, he knows they care about him, and he can’t see himself anywhere else.
Most of all, Richmond and Martin have begun to trust one another, so much so that he has thrived while living with ex-Tiger Dan Connors, who the club once told Martin was persona non grata.
Remarkably, Martin has missed just three games in his AFL career: once while rested in his first year and two when suspended for missing training after taking a sleeping tablet.
His Jack Dyer finishes are exceptional: fourth in his first year, third in 2011, tenth in 2012, second last year, and slugging it out with Trent Cotchin this year.
His father — who he thanked publicly at last year’s Jack Dyer Medal — now spends half his time in Melbourne.
And the Richmond switchboard which once rung off the hook with sightings of Martin out late is now silent, with Martin working in the club’s indigenous centre.
“We are really happy with him,’’ said Tigers footy boss Dan Richardson.
“We feel he is growing as a person and like everyone he has room for improvement, but we are really pleased with the way he is going.
“He still has areas to work on, but his fitness has really improved and it’s a credit to him and our fitness staff. He is durable and he is an elite kick, so we want the ball in his hands and why wouldn’t you when he kicks it the way he does.”
Richardson would not touch on the next round of contract talks, but surely everything points to discussion on an extension over the upcoming summer.
“(The last talks) were public, and it was a little bit more public than you would like, but the reality is we always knew Dustin loves Richmond, and I think he probably learnt from that,’’ Richardson said.
“It reinforced the way we have put our arms around him since. He can trust that the club will always do the right thing by him.
“The bottom line is if he continues to play the footy he is playing and continues to develop on and off field the way he is, then hopefully (the next contract) will take care of itself.”
DUSTIN MARTIN IN 2014Average Rank Richmond
Disposals 26.5 2nd
Kicks 17.2 2nd
Effective Kicks 11.1 1st
Contested Possessions 8.1 5th
Uncontested Possessions 18.6 1st
Assists 1.4 1st
His 18 goals also ranks second at the club.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/richmond-star-dustin-martin-enjoys-careeryear-after-signing-contract-extension/story-e6frf3e3-1226974225190
