Richmond will be armed with draft and free agency warchest if Dustin Martin joins North Melbourne

RICHMOND will be armed with a draft and free agency warchest if Brownlow Medal favourite Dustin Martin accepts North Melbourne’s godfather offer.

Dustin Martin in action for Richmond. Picture: Michael Klein

RICHMOND will be armed with three first-round draft picks and a recruiting warchest if raging Brownlow Medal favourite Dustin Martin accepts North Melbourne’s godfather offer.

The Herald Sun understands the Tigers will not match the Kangaroos’ contract, believed to be more than $10 million over seven seasons, for their restricted free agent.

On Tuesday, the AFL confirmed the maximum compensation the Tigers could receive for Martin would be a first-round pick tied to their ladder finish.

FUTURE PICKS: GARY BUCKENARA’S DIRE TRADE WARNING TO CLUBS

FIELD MARSHAL: CASE FOR AND AGAINST FINALS CONTENDERS

FREES AGAINST: WHO’S IN THE UMPIRES’ BAD BOOKS

Rival list chiefs suggested the Tigers could then bank the cash saved on Martin and spend 12 months plotting a raid for Gold Coast superstar Tom Lynch.

The Suns’ co-captain becomes a restricted free agent next year and his retention could make or break the struggling franchise.

Landing Lynch, from Sorrento, would also ease the pressure on Jack Riewoldt, who will turn 31 in 2019.

Dustin Martin is yet to announce his future. Picture: Michael Klein

Tom Lynch has been labelled the game’s best player by former players.

Lynch, 24, was labelled the game’s No.1 player by Jonathan Brown and Dermott Brereton and could command the largest contract in the game’s history when his Gold Coast deal expires.

Richmond’s desire to lure a power forward was laid bare when the club confirmed its interest in No.2 draft pick Josh Schache.

Schache, 20, re-signed with the Brisbane Lions in June.

Richmond already owns Geelong’s first-round pick, which was received for losing Brett Deledio to GWS last October.

Based on current ladder order, losing Martin would deliver the Tigers picks 15 (their own selection), 16 (Martin compensation) and 17 (Geelong’s selection).

They have not boasted such a strong draft hand since activating five top-20 picks — led by Deledio at No.1 — in 2004.

One of their early selections would likely be used to match an expected first-round bid for father-son gun Patrick Naish.

The Kangaroos’ desperation to land a big fish has seen them up their offer for Martin as hope of trading for Greater Western Sydney’s Josh Kelly starts to wane.

Dustin Martin is being pursued by North Melbourne.

The Herald Sun recently revealed the cashed-up Kangas had enough salary cap space and board approval to poach both midfielders.

The Tigers are not prepared to sell the farm to keep Martin given Riewoldt, Brownlow Medallist Trent Cotchin, Alex Rance and prized recruit Dion Prestia are also on wealthy deals.

Martin and manager Ralph Carr will travel to New Zealand during the pre-finals bye to visit Martin’s father in a meeting expected to be pivotal to the explosive midfielder’s decision.

List expert Gary Buckenara recently said the Roos had to blow Richmond’s offer away by about $400,000 per season to lure Martin.

That discrepancy now seems a real prospect given the Tigers’ final offer is in the vicinity of $1.1 million per season.

“They need to do something pretty big … and get a big deal done for their own credibility,” Buckenara said.

Kangas legend Wayne Carey said his former club’s unprecedented offer for Martin would hamper future list decisions.

“They’d be neglecting their duty. That is too much money for one individual to come to that club,” Carey said on Channel 7.