Key New Zealand meeting with manager Ralph Carr kept Dustin a Tiger

SHANE Martin has revealed that Dustin’s manager Ralph Carr convinced him of the benefits of staying at Richmond.

Shane Martin has turned an Auckland pub into Tigerland. Picture: Alex Coppel.

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SHANE Martin has revealed that Dustin’s manager Ralph Carr convinced him of the benefits of staying at Richmond.

Dustin Martin passed up $2.5 million to stay at Richmond instead of taking the AFL’s richest ever offer, which was put on the table by North Melbourne.

Shane told the Herald Sun that Carr, of RCM Sport, was key to convincing him and Dustin of the long-term benefits of staying with the Tigers, and how he could bridge the gap.

“We were in New Zealand and Ralph just put it all on a white board,” Shane said.

“We really respected him for the input of the bigger picture at the end of the day Dustin staying with Richmond.”

Dustin Martin signed a seven-year deal with the Tigers on the eve of the finals series.

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Shane Martin has turned an Auckland pub into Tigerland. Picture: Alex Coppel

The contract was one of the most talked about of the year, given Dustin’s electric form which earned him the Brownlow Medal this week.

Dustin was influential in the qualifying final against Geelong and kicked three goals to ice Greater Western Sydney in the preliminary final.

Shane Martin said that Carr talked himself out of some of his commission by recommending the Richmond deal.

“He wanted what was best for Dustin, and the club, not his own pocket,” he said.

And he added that Carr had taken many calls from him late at night as they discussed Dustin’s future.

“He’s beyond a manager, he’s not just there to get his percentage.”

Shane, who has been deported from Australia because of his links with the Rebels motorcycle club, will turn Auckland into “Tiger town” for the Grand Final.

Martin gets a pat on the back by his manager Ralph Carr after winning the Brownlow Medal. Picture: Getty

He will deck out a pub in the city centre in black and yellow to watch the game.

“We’ve got a few people coming, they put it out on the radio that we will be at Right Track pub,” he said.

“The pub’s going to be all decked out, we’ll have balloons and banners and flags — it’s gone from rugby town to Tiger town.”

The Right Track is a sports bar in the centre of Auckland, with more than a dozen TV screens that usually show rugby matches.

Shane said he thought Richmond would get up over Adelaide.

“They’re up to the challenge. I believe they have got what it takes,” he said.

“If they apply the pressure in the first quarter like they have in the last two games they are in with a big chance.”

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