Richmond can’t match North Dusty offer says McClureBy Justin Talent
SEN
22 August 2017SEN news breaker Sam McClure believes Richmond will not be able to exercise its right to match any incoming offer for Dustin Martin should he decide to accept North Melbourne’s reported mega deal for the Tigers star.
McClure reports that North Melbourne’s rumoured seven year, $1.5 million a season offer to Martin is just over $300,000 a year higher than Richmond’s current tabled offer over the same period of time.
With the on-baller apparently set to travel with his manager Ralph Carr to discuss his future with his father in New Zealand in the bye week between Round 23 and the finals, The Age journalist believes that while Richmond could have the capacity to increase their offer, they simply don’t have the salary cap space to add over $2.1 million to Martin’s contract over the next seven years.
“It is fair to say that there is no way they can reach $1.5 million times seven,” McClure said on SEN Breakfast.
He added that Martin’s post-football options should mean that the money involved is more important than it would be for other players.
“Dusty, unlike some other players like say a (Luke) Hodge or a (Nick) Riewoldt who are retiring this year, is unlikely to go into the media or coaching, so that extra money is significant,” said McClure.
Tim Watson agreed, believing the current big money contracts the Tigers have for skipper Trent Cotchin, spearhead Jack Riewoldt, star defender Alex Rance and midfielder Dion Prestia heavily limit their wiggle room in negotiations.
“They have probably gone as long and as far as they can,” he said.
“Richmond have got Rance, Riewoldt, Cotchin and Prestia probably under reasonably big contracts. There’s not much wiggle room left there.”
Garry Lyon believes the situation is simple depending on what Martin wants from the rest of his AFL career.
“If he wants to make a financial decision, then he won’t be at Richmond. If it’s purely on the dollars, then he won’t be at Richmond,” he said.
“If there are other things that are more important, then he would (stay at the Tigers).”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/08/22/richmond-can-t-match-north-dusty-offer-says-mcclure/