Richmond fans were greeted by some unwelcome news on this time last week as a rumour had spread that Dustin Martin was shopping around for a new club.
The Tigers faithful exploded on social media . Many were quick to label the young midfielder/forward as ‘selfish, ‘disloyal’ and several unprintable swear words.
Many stories followed about possible clubs that Martin would fit in well with, including Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney.
In the last two weeks, clubs have pulled out of the race for Martin’s services one-by-one. In an ironic twist of fate, Martin will probably remain at the Tigers.
Martin has since taken to the media to clarify that he never truly intended to leave the Tigers, and only wished to see what other options were available to him.
There is no denying that the troubled and wayward star toured the GWS team facilities, and was publicly rejected by several clubs after his management announced that it was open to taking offers from rival clubs.
Carlton, Collingwood and Melbourne were the first teams to pull out of the race to secure Martin’s signature.
The Blues and Pies were not looking to add Martin, whose past indiscretions may have haunted teams them.
Despite Melbourne’s need for a strong, solid-bodied midfielder who can collect and attract the ball, the club issued a statement saying that Martin’s $600,000-a-season salary was out of the Demons’ price range.
After that came the biggest rejection of all, from the club with which Martin had the strongest ties – GWS.
While Martin and his management have been trying desperately to spin this story the other way, it appears that GWS have withdrawn their offer after meeting Martin and having him tour their facilities.
For Martin, GWS were the last team with the financial capacity to sign Martin for his asking price.
There was also the obvious trade bait in Taylor Adams, who wanted to return home to Victoria.
Martin is likely to return to Richmond and receive an offer, albeit a reduced one. The club called his management’s ‘bluff’ on allowing him to be shopped around, relying on Martin’s well-publicised off-field issues as a reason why most clubs would not take the risk.
Another aspect that Martin will have to face is the Tiger faithful – the same Tiger faithful that had called Martin a traitor, as well as other vitriolic insults.
It’s also the same Tiger faithful that will be hoping Martin, along with his teammates, can not only deliver the club into another finals series, but hopefully much deeper into it.
Aransan
Guest
I wouldn't demand loyalty from a player, if it suits a club they will move the player on. If money is so important to a player then it is likely that when they move they will be moving to a club with reduced success prospects. All clubs are bound by the salary cap, if some players on a club's list are being paid over the odds then others will have to be paid unders. Of course it could be argued that most of the players at a weak club are being paid overs. I think you would find that Geelong's very long period of success from 2006 to the present has resulted from players being prepared to accept less money than they could get on the open market. How much money would a player lose in tax from a higher paid contract? I think some of the comments on Dustin Martin are really trying to be helpful to the player. He is widely accepted as being immature and supporters favourably disposed to him are hoping that he will grow up and take more responsibility for his own actions. We have seen too many wasted talents in recent times and I think we could all name them. I am not a fan of Demetriou but I thought his advice to Dustin was spot on.
GazzaW
Guest
Very nasty how all these rumours about his behaviour surface when he puts himself on the market. If he was that unmanageable then surely Richmond would be better off getting rid off him for a high draft pick! I wonder if it is a deliberate ploy to scare off other clubs. While he may indeed have baggage I wouldn't know myself.But I just wonder if this how players are going to be treated when they want to move clubs for the "shocking" reason of wanting more pay. How loyal should players be to clubs after all clubs are pretty ruthless or careless when they want to be. Every time a player wants to explore better offers these days they seem to get branded as disloyal or a trouble maker or a non conformist just so other clubs get scared off.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
No argument. He's immature. Richmond has done as good a job at fostering him as maybe any club could, by all accounts. It's a pity that he and Arthur Daley, sorry, former pop music manager, Ralph Carr, have taken this stance.
Aransan
Guest
If Dustin wants the salary he desires then it would be reasonable to expect some maturity from him to go with it. I remember a former coach of St. Kilda saying that they weren't in the child minding business. If you have to keep someone on a short leash then it is inevitable that they won't learn to manage themselves and at some stage they will cause trouble. The longer you absolve them of the responsibility of looking after themselves, the greater the eventual problem.
George Max Baer
Guest
The real question is...has anything you've done made your life better? Dustin Martin has got to stop blaming others for this and ask himself some honest questions. He got himself into this mess. Now, it's his own job to get himself out of it.
Edan Nissen
Roar Rookie
Obviously there are different standards for different levels of employment. If you want to get paid the same amount as the CEO of a relatively big company there are expectations on your performance. This includes a certain standard of professionalism, aka not taking sleeping pills, missing trainings and generally acting like a pillock. You may not get the sack for it, be a CEO would, and seeing as Mr Martin is hoping for a pay increase, he would act professionally and not like a said pillock.
Edan Nissen
Roar Rookie
You'd think Brisbane wouldn't be keen on a player with a reputation for stupidity. Isn't the saying "once burnt, twice shy"? I suppose Voss isn't around to help "manage" the troubled player.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Managers are also in the business of taking a buck from a schmuck. Part of me understands this, and the other part detests it. To be honest though, it wouldn't concern me anywhere near as much if it was a player from another club who was in this situation. Martin, despite some obvious troubles with his upbringing, can still be a weapon in the AFL. He does need to be 'managed' though, obviously.
slane
Guest
You wouldn't work for me.
Mike
Guest
Come on Anthony - managers are supposed to look after the interests of their clients - not make them look like village idiots .
Lisamw
Guest
If I got crucified for sleeping in and rocking up a bit dishevelled for work on occasions I would have never had a job! Glass houses people!!!
Anthony Kent
Guest
He's a young man and I think we should make allowances for that. It's in the interest of player agents interest to inflate the egos and asking price - they get a cut...As for all his off field indiscretions, what off-field indiscretions? Can anyone please point to a genuine, serious, documented incident?
Mike
Guest
If the bloke has got any brains (debatable) he'll sack his manager immediately - he has made him look like an absolute fool parading him around clubs that don't want him. Didn't he ever think to quietly check with the other clubs to see if there was any genuine interest before flicking the switch to vaudeville - or in this case jokesville!
dylan
Guest
I dont think its peoples right to call him anything, sure richmond supporters were disappointed after his decision last week (being a tigers supporter myself) but it was purely his management that let him down, leading him to believe he is worth more than he is given the baggage he carries. along with encouraging him to look at other clubs and possibly just leave richmond behind. I'd say he will resign on a slightly reduced contract and will have his best season yet in 2014. GO THE TIGERS!!
Aransan
Guest
Richmond should offer him $475k for three years with some pretty big penalties for any brain fades bringing him into disrepute on and off the field including a sacking provision. It isn't hard to think of recent past players who have done great damage to themselves and their clubs because their bad behaviour wasn't nipped in the bud early in their careers. His agent has done him no favours.
wally
Guest
Reduce the offer to Martin by 50%.
Pat
Guest
The blokes manager must be as bigger goose as he is, talk about dumb & dumber. I hope the Tigers tell him that he has tested the market and he is worth nothing like what he thinks and slash their previous offer to him. The only buffoon to rival this bloke is the Rugby twat 'Brand' O'Connor.
TomC
Roar Guru
I believe Brisbane are still interested, but Martin isn't interested in Brisbane. Which just shows that while Martin might have his troubles, he still has better judgement than the Brisbane Lions.
mark
Guest
It seems dustys idiot manager led him on an unnecessary wild goose chase and just upset everyone. The tigers will welcome him back with open arms but he should seriously think about cutting ties with his current manager. Sign with the tigers and just get back to what he is good at and that's playing footy .