Port Adelaide champion Warren Tredrea urges Richmond to part ways with star Dustin Martin Warren Tredrea
From: The Advertiser
September 19, 2013 CUT Dustin Martin free and you won't look back.That is my message to the Richmond Football Club.
On the field, Martin is a young star of the highest quality. Off the field, he is a ticking time bomb.
That’s why the Tigers must be ruthless and hold firm by not overpaying him.
As dominant and explosive as the 187cm, 89kg midfielder is, he has a lot of growing up to do.
With 86 games under his belt since being drafted at No. 3 at the 2009 national draft, Martin should be shooting to superstardom with 60,000 Tiger fans cheering his every move.
But late Monday it was revealed that he wanted to pursue offers from rival clubs.
In other words, he is chasing a huge payday.
I feel sorry for Richmond.
It has supported the erratic Martin through thick and thin.
It has paid him well above his market rate for the past few years and only now is Martin beginning to fulfil his part of the bargain on the field.
As brilliant as he is, Martin has lacked consistency and the Tigers’ offer of $1 million over two years is fair.
Martin should have signed on the dotted line as soon as that deal was put to him.
Martin’s fellow Richmond stars Jack Riewoldt, Brett Deledio and skipper Trent Cotchin have all re-signed at Tigerland for less money than they could have received elsewhere.
Apart from the money, you have to question what Martin wants out of football.
Richmond appears to be on the verge of something special, so surely "Dusty’s" best shot at winning a premiership is to stay where he is.
By putting himself on the open market, Martin has snubbed his club and teammates and shown that a flag might not be that important to him.
Every premiership team consists of players who could have earned more cash elsewhere.
But to be successful good players need to stay together, which means sacrificing money so clubs can stay under the salary cap and keep their best players.
If it’s all right for Riewoldt, Deledio and Cotchin to buy in, why not the other member of the "Core Four", Martin?
The gamebreaker is treating Richmond — a club which has done so much for him — with contempt.
Off the field, Martin is no angel.
He has a long list of off-field indiscretions which go back to his school years.
The Tigers have had to suspend him for failing to attend training sessions and have gone out of their way to keep him on the straight and narrow, including having development coach Mark Williams take him under his wing this year.
This appeared to have worked, with Martin enjoying a career-best season.
Staying at Richmond where the club has established a valuable support network for him could be vital in Martin fulfilling his potential.
I worry that his manager isn’t handling the situation well.
Ralph Carr is the same man who oversaw Travis Cloke’s public contract saga last year.
Someone needed to tell Cloke to bite his tongue rather than run a public commentary on his contract status, which inflamed his situation and put unnecessary pressure on the struggling big man.
Martin not only needs a manager who can negotiate a good financial deal but, more importantly, someone who recognises how good his client has it at Richmond.
With the former star Tiger and current chief executive Brendon Gale rebuilding the club, it appears destined for continued success both on and off the field.
Importantly, they have 60,000 paid-up members and major sponsors who have just recommitted, allowing the Tiges to invest heavily in their football department.
With regular support mechanisms in place for Martin, coach Damien Hardwick can’t do any more to help the excitement machine prosper.
Williams even tried to teach Martin life skills to help him better cope both now and in the future.
But Martin appears to have thumbed his nose at it all.
All for what, on the surface, appears to be about an extra $100,000 a season.
His decision is a poor one.
Hopefully Martin quickly comes to his senses and realises the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
A quick reversal in attitude would give him the chance to still become a Tiger folk hero.
But Richmond needs a quick and clear answer.
Anymore toing and froing and it just has to cut its losses and set Martin free.
Actions speak louder than words and if the Tigers can pick up a top draft pick for Martin, spend the extra cash in their salary cap wisely and continue to create a strong culture, they could set up a decade of success.
One disgruntled player must not be allowed to undo all the good work the Richmond hierarchy has performed to get this proud club, which has been in the wilderness for so long, back into a position to contend for a flag again.
It’s time for a tough decision at Punt Rd.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/port-adelaide-champion-warren-tredrea-urges-richmond-to-part-ways-with-star-dustin-martin/story-fndv8s6g-1226722248671#mm-breached
