Richmond Tigers up contract offer to Dustin Martin to $6 million over six yearsJon Pierik
The Age
25 July 2017 7:00pmRichmond superstar Dustin Martin stands to earn more than $6 million over the next six years as part of a revised offer from the Tigers in a year he could become the first uncontracted man this century to win the Brownlow Medal.
Martin's manager Ralph Carr, having this week returned from overseas, reiterated on Tuesday his client would not make a decision until the end of the season, meaning it could be late September before this is done.
"Nothing has changed," Carr said.
The Tigers' initial offer was $800,000 a season over five years but market conditions and an increase in the salary cap as part of a new collective bargaining agreement have played a role in the club increasing its bid. It's understood Martin is on about $650,000 this year.
That Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe has signed a six-year deal understood to be worth up to $1.2 million a season has also reinforced to the Tigers the market value of their restricted free agent.
Fyfe, the 2015 Brownlow medallist, is a match-winner and the face of the Dockers, meaning he ticks all the boxes in terms of generating revenue for the club. While Martin does few public promotional appearances or press conferences, he too, is an on-field match winner and a major marketing tool for the Tigers. His presence at a club function quickly turns it into a sell-out event.
The Tigers are in fourth spot on the ladder and, should they remain there come the end of the home-and-away season, are guaranteed of at least two finals. Should they win one and at least advance into a preliminary final, the Tigers may have to wait until grand-final week to know their fate.
Martin, 26, is almost certain to be named as an All Australian and is also one of the favourites to claim the sport's highest individual honour – the Brownlow Medal. It could make for an awkward presentation should he win and remain uncontracted. It's rare for a Brownlow medallist to be uncontracted, certainly one seriously considering a shift of clubs. Martin finished third in last year's count.
Both the club and Carr have not ruled out Martin remaining unsigned until the end of the season. The Tigers are comfortable to wait for Martin to make a call, particularly as public speculation has not impacted on his performances. The Tigers remain confident he will remain at Punt Road.
Aside from the long-term offer from North Melbourne of $1 million a year, and speculation of Essendon's interest, the Tigers have no knowledge of any other offer for Martin. It's understood Carr has not told the club of any other offer.
If there was a larger offer from another club, the Tigers are likely to point out to Martin that he could recoup that money over the long-term from sponsorships by remaining at Punt Road.
Players agents argue there is little point in a star player leaving his club if there is a financial difference of less than $200,000 a year, for there are tax issues to take into consideration.
Martin is said to be more than happy with the Tigers, with Jack Riewoldt declaring his teammate was "loving" life at Punt Road. The Tigers also check in on Martin through his father Shane, who has been forced to live in his native New Zealand over his involvement with the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang.
Martin is on track to claim successive Jack Dyer medals, although skipper Trent Cotchin is also having his best season.
He and his management had wanted to assess where the Tigers were at this year in terms of their list development, for the midfield bull has yet to experience a winning final since he was taken with the third overall selection in the 2009 national draft. A deep finals run would help to provide clarity.
That Martin is a restricted free agent means the Tigers could become the first club to match any rival offer – a point not lost on Tigers chief Brendon Gale.
"He's a restricted free agent. So we've always got the right to match any sort of offer. I guess we do have that in the background," he said last month.
If the Tigers match any offer, Martin would then have to stay, head to the draft or seek a trade.
While the Tigers remain confident he will remain, should they not match a bloated rival offer, they would suddenly have more room in their salary cap to pursue another star. They would also receive a pick immediately after their first-round draft selection as part of free-agency compensation, although this is likely to be in the mid teens.
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