Dustin Martin contract, future at Richmond, Justin Leppitsch says he hasn’t shown signs he’s leavingJuly 27, 2017 10:35am
by Brayden May
FOX SPORTSRICHMOND assistant coach Justin Leppitsch believes star midfielder Dustin Martin hasn’t displayed any behaviour to suggest he will depart the club.
Fairfax Media earlier this week reported the Tigers have offered Martin a deal worth six million dollars over six years as they attempt to fend off interest of rival clubs.
Speaking on SEN Breakfast, former Brisbane coach Leppitsch says the 26-year-old has not acted in a similar way to Lions players who left the club during his three-year tenure.
“It’s not like he’s displaying distant behaviour, which I’ve seen quite a bit of with players wanting to go,” Leppitsch said.
“In my time at Brisbane I’ve seen a lot of the behaviours that attaches to that.
“He hasn’t shown any of those signs, in fact, he’s more entrenched in the team emotionally than ever.
“It would be a surprise (if he left) but we live in a world of not just emotion, but money and other things that drive players.
“But Dusty is so much part of the furniture it would feel strange if he actually left.”
And Leppitsch says the club’s coaching staff would be able to tell if a player was not invested into the team’s cause.
“We know relationships well and we know when they are and aren’t working and someone might be being distant and maybe not giving everything they’ve got,” he said.
“We all sense what those little things are and that’s when alarm bells start to ring. Whether it be a player used to turn up and do extras a lot more than they used to or they are less engaged in meetings than they used to be.
“All those little things you start to pick up on and think the person is starting to disengage a little.
“None of that has been there with Dusty, if anything it’s gone the opposite, so emotionally he’s invested in us and let’s hope that’s the reason he stays as much as any.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/richmond-assistant-justin-leppitsch-says-dustin-martin-hasnt-shown-any-signs-hes-leaving-the-tigers/news-story/f89a2d44ed8fda9b9900c6c6970ea19f