Dustin Martin will be welcome back at Richmond

UPDATE: RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin says he hopes Dustin Martin "comes to his senses" and stays at Tigerland.

Dustin Martin

RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin says he hopes Dustin Martin "comes to his senses" and stays at Tigerland.

Cotchin said it was hard to take watching his star teammate - and former housemate - being shown around the facilities of Greater Western Sydney last week.

He made it clear Richmond would welcome Martin back into Punt Rd after a positive meeting with coach Damien Hardwick over a beer on Friday.

"You see one of your teammates and someone I get along really well with at the club walking trhough an opposition team's headquarters is something that's hard to swallow," Cotchin told Triple M today.

"The thing for us is that we know Dusty is a required player if we are going to play in premierships and we're just hoping that he comes to his senses and makes a really good decision on his and the club's behalf."

Martin added further intrigue when he promoted an official Richmond Brownlow competition on Twitter today. 

How many votes will I score at the #Brownlow? Tweet your guess with #tigerbrownlow More details here http://t.co/I0qMgsSgKD #DustyVotes

— Dustin Martin (@DustinMartin4) September 23, 2013

Martin is one of five Richmond players invited to tonight's Brownlow count, along with Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt and Daniel Jackson.

The move to sound out GWS saw his manager Ralph Carr roundly criticised and another prospective home removed from the table.

Only Brisbane remains as a potential suitor, and even the Lions are an extreme long shot given they do not have a coach and would be unlikely to pay him $600,000 a year.

2013 Brownlow Medal

Martin and Hardwick met in St Kilda on Friday afternoon, where the Tigers coach reinforced to Martin just how valuable a player he is to Richmond.

They will work towards trying to seal a deal for Martin this week.

Forward Aaron Edwards has emerged as an unlikely mentor and quasi-minder for Martin, who at one stage lived with captain Trent Cotchin.

Edwards is no stranger to controversies, but has been helping close friend Martin to get through this difficult period and working on his off-field habits and behaviours.

But while Hardwick and Martin have an extremely strong relationship, the fourth-year Tiger must still decide to re-engage in contract negotiations.

It has been confirmed that the Tigers have taken the two-year million dollar contract off the table given the breakdown in negotiation after four months.

But there are still varying reports about whether the Tigers will reduce that offer if and when Martin decides to come back to the negotiating table.

Tigers sources said the Reece Conca and Martin contracts were not linked in any way, so Conca’s signing on a three-year deal should not affect Martin’s price.

But while the Tigers hoped to be active in the trade period that seems unlikely if both sign, with GWS midfielder Taylor Adams also harder to acquire.

Former captain Chris Newman signed a one-year deal mid-season, while key position player Ben Griffiths will also sign a one-year deal.

In injury news, star forward Jack Riewoldt has needed minor knee surgery that won’t affect his return in late November.

Small forward Jake King also needed toe surgery but will make a swift recovery after surgeries to his foot, wrist and knee in the previous off-season.

The Tigers are considering a training camp in Queensland later in the pre-season but have not confirmed any dates.