Dustin Martin’s contract saga: What happens if he stays at Richmond? What happens if he joins North?

WILL Dustin Martin stay at Richmond or take the big money from North? Could another club swoop in and ruin their parties? Jay Clark answers seven burning questions around the contract saga.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA — AUGUST 12: Dustin Martin of the Tigers celebrates during the 2017 AFL round 21 match between the Geelong Cats and the Richmond Tigers at Simonds Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

DUSTIN Martin is back in Melbourne after his much-publicised trip to New Zealand where he and his manager Ralph Carr visited Martin’s father Shane to discuss his future.

Weighing up monster seven-year offers from the Tigers and North Melbourne, there is speculation that the Kangaroos’offer to the restricted free agent is worth $2.8 million more than what Richmond have tabled.

Carr has suggested an announcement will be made by the end of the week, with rumours circulating Martin will confirm his plans on the Footy Show on Thursday night.

As speculation continues, Jay Clark answers the burning questions:

Dustin Martin arriving back from New Zealand. Picture: Jay Town

What does it mean for Richmond if he stays?

It’s massive. If Martin stays it helps keep the Tigers in the premiership frame for the next few years at least or for as long as Trent Cotchin, Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt are all in the primes of their careers.

Martin is clearly among the best three players in the competition and his impact in the forward half of the ground is immense because he kicks goals, breaks lines and sets up opponents.

While he is there, the Tigers are a chance in any game.

Richmond Tigers player Dustin Martin is set to confirm his future

What does it mean if he leaves?

Richmond’s strategy on Martin has been excellent all along. The offer started at about $700,000 a year and is now up around $1.1 million a year. Richmond can’t offer Martin more than that without hampering the team in other areas.

The Tigers would be extremely silly to offer him more than $1.1 million and they won’t. He could go to North for more money ($1.5 million a year) but do the Roos have the player depth to go all the way relying so heavily on Martin?

Doubt it.

If he does go, the Tigers need not go all-out this year to replace him immediately. The more considered decision may be to use his money front-end some contracts this year and create some significant cap room for 12 months time when they can have a big go at Tom Lynch (Gold Coast) or GWS star Lachie Whitfield when they come out of contract at the end of 2018.

Compensation for Richmond also includes draft pick No. 17.

What about North if they miss out on Martin?

It’s a full-on rebuild that will ensure they remain in the lower part of the ladder for the next two or three years.

Look to trade Todd Goldstein and get as many top-20 picks as they can for another shot at a top four spot from 2020 onwards. Hard yards until then.

It sounds like Josh Kelly is also staying at the Giants for another two years.

They need elite youth.

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Could another club swoop in?

No. Dusty won’t consider going interstate and that’s obvious. It’s Richmond or North, they’re his options.

Is Martin worth the money?

He is worth $1.1 million to Richmond and not more.

The Tigers are being responsible here. If they pay him more they are a chance to lose other important players. They know that and are offering Martin a fair and reasonable pile of cash.

If he stays at Punt Rd, he will have potential to earn a stack of dough on the side with marketing and business ventures. If he’s smart about it.

Dustin Martin arrives back from New Zealand at Tullamarine International.

Is football now just about money?

No. Football is about winning premierships and enjoying fulfilling careers on and off the field. Money is a factor but on the whole players are very loyal and turn down more lucrative offers more regularly than is made public. Martin’s management has done a good job getting two great offers on the table for Martin. Ralph Carr won’t be popular with the Tiger fans but he’s achieved his goal, on face value. Martin’s form has been sublime all year. Now he’s getting a handsome amount to stay or go.

Why has the saga dragged on so long?

In a nutshell, it’s so Martin can get the best deal possible. The strategy has worked, albeit making Richmond very nervous at times.

Martin won’t give a damn about the public speculation. If anything it might have helped him achieve career-best form.

The fact that Richmond’s initial offer of $700,000 has steadily increased, will have added a significant amount of conversation and subsequently time. Pair that with other clubs joining the race, there’s been a fair amount of back-and-forth.