Dustin Martin could be forced to return to Richmond Sam Edmund
From: Herald Sun
September 20, 2013 2:11PMDUSTIN Martin wore a hard hat as he toured the Greater Western Sydney facilities, but he may need a tank if he's forced to return to Punt Rd.
Martin and his manager Ralph Carr this week told an exasperated Richmond they were off to negotiate with rival clubs.
But the 22-year-old is running out of escape routes after GWS today performed a dramatic back-flip, saying they were no longer interested.
With Carlton, Melbourne, St Kilda and Collingwood also turning their backs, Martin is facing the very real prospect of returning to the Tigers with his tail between his legs.
He would come face-to-face with teammates, of whom several were angry at his refusal to re-commit to a club that had supported him through a litany of off-field issues.
Can he even return now? Has too much damage been done?
The Tigers reached breaking point earlier this week after four months of frustrating negotiations with Carr, refusing to go near the $600,000 a season he was demanding.
The club withdrew the offer and re-signed Reece Conca, who was desperate to stay from the outset. How they must wish Martin was the same.
From the outside, Martin and Carr have attempted to bully Richmond into upping their offer by flirting with others.
Richmond has called their bluff.
In this career-shaping game of po-ker, Martin’s next hand will be intriguing.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/dustin-martin-could-be-forced-to-return-to-richmond/story-fndv8t7m-1226723604992#mm-breached
