Contract circus is not in Dustin Martin’s best interests, writes Mark Robinson
DON’T blame Dustin Martin for his reluctance to discuss his contract, his manager shouldn’t have put him in such a situation while talks are continuing, writes MARK ROBINSON.
Mark Robinson
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DUSTIN Martin attended his first media gig in 12 months on Wednesday.
It was to be a Sherrin promotion at the MCG, but it largely became another Dusty Martin episode.
He walked away from the cameras and microphones after questions were asked about his contract.
It wasn’t Martin’s fault he walked off because that was how he reacted in an uncomfortable situation.
The issue is he shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
Martin doesn’t like being the centre of attention. And, truth be known, he’s not confident putting himself out there so he can be judged on how he speaks and what he says.
DUSTY WALKS OUT: ‘I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT IT’
Martin is an amazing contradiction.
He knows his way around a footy ground like Usain Bolt knows his way around the 200m. Instinct and talent kicks in and, in those 120 minutes, he’s explosive and supremely confident, if not arrogant.
But off the field, and in front of cameras or in front of those he doesn’t know, he’s a little boy lost.
Certainly, his manager Ralph Carr shouldn’t have allowed Martin to be at the Sherrin promotion while contract talks are continuing and, it has to be noted, this was not a Richmond promotion.
There were concerns.
What started as a favour by Martin to Mark Williams, his long-time mentor, became an event.
Carr and a media representative from Richmond attended and having Williams front and square ensured Martin would feel comfortable.
In fact, when the questioning became a touch repetitious, it was Williams who hijacked the microphone and you could be excused for thinking, at that time, Martin was a 12-year-old and not a 25-year-old adult.
Then Martin walked off.
One of the jobs for player managers, surely, is to act in the best interests of their client.
This wasn’t one of those cases.
The last time Martin was coming out of contract, Carr took Martin to Greater Western Sydney to meet the coaches and put on a hard hat.
Five minutes after he arrived, the Giants knew Martin wasn’t going to GWS and that his heart was at Richmond.
It was embarrassing for Martin and Carr and a touch so for GWS who took him on a tour of unfinished grandstands.
A week later, Martin re-signed with the Tigers.
Carr has a curious way of handling contract negotiations.
In September last year it was reported Adelaide, St Kilda and Essendon were into Martin for a million large per year.
Carr didn’t dispel the story.
That same night the Saints contacted the Herald Sun and denied any interest in Martin and the Crows were even more emphatic.
“He is not part of our recruiting and list management discussions,” list management Justin Reid said.
“To suggest otherwise is incorrect.”
Story dead.
Fast forward and Martin’s management, presumably Carr, has said all contract talks with the Tigers are off until the end of the year.
That’s OK if you’re Nathan Fyfe and Patrick Dangerfield who are media savvy and slick on their feet when asked about their futures.
When Martin was asked — for the first time — he said it’s between Carr and the club and, moments later, he departed.
Martin is a buck five to re-sign with the Tigers.
In many ways, this football club has been his security blanket since he was drafted as an unworldly 17-year-old.
The Tigers have moulded, supported, guided and even laid down the law over various personal stuff throughout his career and just recently offered him $800,000 a year for what could be for five years.
It would be astounding if Martin departed because another club offered $900,000 per year.
That he would uproot himself and his precious comfortableness for an entirely new environment and an extra 50K after tax.
The question needs to be asked: Is this circus really in the best interests of Dusty?
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