Dustin Martin contract in Auckland with Shane Martin: Richmond dealHerald Sun
28 August 2017DUSTIN Martin has arrived in Auckland for contract talks with his father Shane and his manager Ralph Carr.
Yesterday the Sunday Herald Sun confirmed Martin would depart Melbourne after Richmond’s game against St Kilda to talk over his options.
The pressure is on Richmond to increase its offer with Martin understood to be choosing between a $1.5m deal at North Melbourne or $1.1 million a year at Tigers.
Both deals are over seven years so Martin would have to give up $2.8 million to stay with the Tigers.
It’s possible a decision could be announced this week, which would likely keep him at Richmond.
Throughout the season, Richmond has allowed Martin the time to visit his father who was deported for his links to the Rebels motorcycle gang.
He was flown to New Zealand by the Government in April, 2016, after Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said he failed to meet the minimum character requirements to remain in Australia.
Any delay on a decision until after the finals likely means Martin will be wearing blue and white stripes next year.
But despite the threat of Martin leaving, a club insider who asked not to be named said he was confident Martin would stay.
“The bigger picture will come into play and the dollars and cents of the two contracts won’t matter,” the insider said.
“If he’s a Brownlow Medallist at Richmond he’ll make a quarter of that up this year — 20 years into the future that’s going to be worth so much more.”
Dustin’s father Shane has been forced to watch all his son’s games on TV after he was deported because of his alleged links to the Rebels motorcycle club.
Richmond legend Francis Bourke said that Martin had every right to make the best choice possible for himself.
He said that Richmond’s best chance of keeping Martin was to play good football.
“As far as I’m concerned, I hope he stays. You would argue that your instincts would be sated by being in a successful organisation,” he said.
Bourke who was in Richmond’s 1967 premiership, which was the first flag since World War Two, said this crop of Tigers were on the verge of something special.
“They’ve got a chance to put themselves in a unique position. That’s what football is all about,” he said.
Dustin Martin arrives at Auckland Airport with his manager today
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/dustin-martin-arrives-in-new-zealand-to-discuss-future-plans-with-father-shane/news-story/0ac4ce5724db77ad264defc961c2211e
