Sheahan Ink: Sydney Swans start quiet talks to lure Dustin Martin
The Sydney Swans have begun background talks with Dustin Martin’s manager to lure the Tigers star interstate, but at what cost?
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Could Sydney pull off another heist and land one of the biggest names in the AFL to wear the red and white?
The Sydney Swans are believed to have begun secret talks with Martin’s high profile manager Ralph Carr about a potential move north to the harbour city and a new multi million dollar deal.
The club is keeping the talks at arms length but are keen not to miss their window of opportunity.
But a major sticking point in landing the Richmond triple premiership player is money and the bulging Swans salary cap.
A Martin insider said “talks are preliminary at this stage as there are a lot of moving parts but there’s little doubt Dusty wants to live in Sydney”.
Martin’s current pay packet at Punt Road is in the vicinity of $1.4 million a season and it would take similar numbers to get him to Sydney.
Standing in Martin’s way is Swans champion Buddy Franklin and his seven-year deal at Tigerland.
Franklin wants to play on next year and is pushing for another contract offer but it appears money will be a sticking point
Martin has long held a desire to play football in Sydney and enjoy the lifestyle of relative anonymity it would bring.
He’s said to have even been eyeing off a home to add to his property portfolio.
A group of influential friends and advisers are looking to steer the Tigers’ champ into a multimillion-dollar property in Sydney’s affluent east, coincidentally a stone’s throw from the SCG.
He still has two-and-a-half years to run on his deal at Tigerland which the club may ask him to honour.
But it may also consider the fame and fortune he has made the club in ticket sales, merchandise, sponsors and TV ratings as time served. Not to mention the three premierships.
Martin could table his mental health as a defining factor in any decision to move to the Swans.
He enjoys flying under the radar in the NRL mad state which allows him to be himself.
The daily trip to the local cafe in Melbourne has become a chore for Martin with fans staring, talking or requesting photo and paparazzi on the hunt for exclusive pictures.
He has a wide and varied group of friends north of the border which includes former NRL stars Sony Bill Williams and Paul Gallen as well as some big name businessmen.
Martin took time away from the game after personal issues engulfed him, sparking fears he would hang up the boots for good.
But the Sydney move could prove the perfect tonic to keep Dusty in the game, and happy.
CLARKSON TO TACKLE BIG QUESTIONS IN SHEP
Gun for hire Alastair Clarkson is set to be grilled about his next move Tuesday night in Shepparton.
Clarkson is one of the favourites to take over from outgoing GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron, who resigned Tuesday night after nine years at the helm. The recently retired Hawthorn coach set to speak at the Shepparton Bears football club.
The in demand football brain will deliver a speech to the area’s coaches as ambassador for mental health as part of a AFL Goulburn Valley, Valley Sport and Tackle Your Feelings workshop.
Organisers said Clarkson would field questions from the attendees which would no doubt include questions on his future.
Clarkson has laid his cards bare about his intent to coach again with markets having the former Hawthorn premiership coach leading the list of contenders to take over GWS.
GALE DRESSED FOR THE PART
The old adage ‘you dress for the job you want, not for the job you’ve got’ is true.
For aspiring AFL CEO Brendon Gale the above rang true yesterday.
The Richmond Football Club chief executive looked very dapper dining at an up-market Bourke St eatery on Friday with his wife, dressed in a very expensive looking suit.
After lunch, Gale was spotted perusing some thrillers in the Paperback Bookshop looking for his next read.
GOLFING STARS AT WAR
Greg Norman has been told to ‘go f**k yourself’ by a former friend and golfing colleague Wayne Grady.
In a stinging attack posted to social media, Grady teed off on the Shark, suggesting he was disloyal and wanted to take down the PGA Tour.
“The admiration I had for him for what he has achieved and what he did for Australia golf is gone.
“Greg is only about Greg.
“For him to try and trivialise what the greats before him did to grow and create what the PGA Tour is today is an absolute disgrace,” it reads.
“You should hang your head in shame Shark.”
We reached out to Grady via his social media platforms and did not receive a reply before publishing.
HIRD PLAYERS’ FAVOURITE
Alastair Clarkson may be the early favourite to take over at GWS but James Hird is the ideal candidate according to the Giants playing group.
Hird is currently working with the club as a leadership consultant working on a part time basis while still living in Melbourne.
The playing group is in awe of the Essendon champion and have spoken of his impact on the group in such a short space of time.
But what would it take to convince the businessman to make the permanent move north?
Figures of $800,000+ have been spoken of for him to get back in the hot seat, and would likely poach some people still employed at Bomberland he had close affiliations with.
Hird would definitely boost the club’s fortunes on and off the field just with his sheer presence.
The 2000 Essendon premiership captain would add media exposure to the western Sydney entity by way of greater intrigue to the premiership aspirants, which would mean more bums on seats and greater exposure for the team.
Hird told one friend recently he was surprised the group hadn’t won a premiership with the amount of talent the list has.
Will CEO Dave Matthews and Chairman Tony Shepherd make the bold move and hire the in-demand former Don?
Hird’s kids are all young adults now so their high school education is no longer a consideration paving the way for James and Tania to live in Sydney.
Originally published as Sheahan Ink: Sydney Swans start quiet talks to lure Dustin Martin
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