RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says Alex Rance has assured him his future is at Punt Road as fears grow Dustin Martin’s contract talks will drag on until season’s end.
Free agent Rance failed to give any guarantee he wanted to stay at Richmond on Tuesday, saying only that he would deal with it later in the year.
But while Tigers coach Hardwick said he believed both would re-sign, the Herald Sun understands Martin’s management is not yet willing to enter productive talks on a deal.
It believes he has an employment contract until the end of the season, with contract talks after the season finishes one option being strongly considered.
He is happy and settled at the club but delaying talks on a deal, with Richmond desperate to avoid another messy contract drama for the star midfielder.
Richmond captain Trent Cotchin signed a new deal late last year to remove a distraction but instead deals for Martin and Rance has been thrust into the spotlight.
Hardwick told the Herald Sun he was still confident of retaining both players but had to abide by the free agency and trade system.
“(Rance) is obviously an important player to us but free agency is part and parcel of what we do and when you have eight years of service you deserve the right to choose where you want to go,’’ he said.
“We have got no doubt (Alex) will stay at Richmond, he is a quality lad, he is a fantastic player and will continue to be so for the Richmond footy club.
“I think Dusty like all good players provides innuendo but we are very confident he will stay. We don’t think it will be a drawn-out process. We have got some quality people at the footy club doing their best to get his contract signed and we don’t think it will be a drawn-out process.”
Asked if he had sought assurances personally from Rance, he replied: “Yeah, absolutely. Dan Richardson takes care of that, but we speak to all of our players all of the time. It is one thing we are mindful of, keeping quality players at your club.”
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-stars-alex-rance-and-dustin-martin-not-rushing-into-new-deals-focus-on-2015-season/story-fndv8t7m-1227215058066