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When a young talented player is chosen early in the national draft, AFL player managers swarm around them and their families like bees around a honey pot.
They know a good thing when they see one and realise that if they can nab this talented player, who an AFL Club has chosen as their first pick and is in the top five or ten overall, he will be a handy addition to their stable as the years go on.
If these youngsters reach the heights they were chosen for, both the player and his manager will be well looked after financially.
But there are examples of some players and their managers asking for overs, causing a standoff between the footballer and his team.
One such case is the brilliant midfielder, Dustin Martin. The explosive onballer has played 86 games in four years and has proven to be a match-winner at times and has also shown he could become one of the greats of the game.
However, after months of negotiations, he has rejected Richmond’s latest offer for a new contract and he and his manager, Ralph Carr are now considering other options.
He doesn’t seem completely lost to the Tigers just yet, but understandably, Richmond is disappointed, considering how talented Martin is.
Richmond gave him his chance and have also assisted in a number of off field challenges and issues, which have threatened to derail his career.
The Tigers have a particular player payment structure in place and most of their talented young players have committed to the short and medium term as this club tries to develop an era of success after making the finals for the first time this season since 2001.
Martin’s manager is the maverick, Ralph Carr, better known for dealing with musicians.
He was involved with Travis Cloke and his father David last year when they were dealing with Collingwood in search of a new and lucrative contract, which was eventually signed-off on.
However, there were times when both parties walked away from discussions and Cloke, who is one of if not the best key forward in the competition was a good chance of playing elsewhere.
Now, I am not casting aspersions towards Carr, but the music and footy industries are different beasts and for the second year in a row, he is involved in an AFL player contract, which has got more complicated than it needed to.
Young Dustin could do with a more footy-savvy manager, of which there are many of them.
Martin as we know was suspended by the club for missing a training session last year for taking a sleeping tablet, for which the same act cost his close friend and former team-mate his career at Richmond.
The Tigers were criticised for applying one rule to one and a different rule to another and although they have been happy with his commitment since that mishap, Martin has had issues getting the right balance when away from the club and footy.
He is still in the early days of his career and the Tigers by all accounts are offering him an excellent deal, which if managed properly will set him up for life, but the advice he’s receiving is pushing for much more.
Other clubs would love him, but as mentioned it’s a massive risk to pay overs for a player still proving himself and who is still adjusting to life in a fishbowl as an AFL player and potentially a future star.
There’s an old saying in this game. There’s no loyality in footy and it’s true to some extent, but the Tigers stuck by this young man in difficult times last year and he needs to repay that faith.
I understand he has every right to consider his options, but will other clubs think the asking price despite his obvious talent will be too much of a risk and wouldn’t be embarrassing if Martin went back to Punt Road with cap in hand?
That could still happen yet and the Tigers might have to have a wet towel waiting at the door to wipe the egg off his face!
Let’s hope he comes to his senses and stays at Tigerland. It would be good for footy!
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