Tiger fans will know how I feel. We are waiting graciously on at least a sense of where Dustin Martin’s head is at in regards to staying or going.
As Brendan Gale said last week, the club needs to have a rough idea of where this is leading but not just the club what about the 70,000 members and hundreds of thousands of fans.
The media is putting so much apparent contradictory trash out there you don’t know what to believe. Fans are wanting to rip their hair out. But the longer these things drag on the more you suspect the outcome is going one way.
No disrespect to Ralph Carr, but I despise the way he conducts himself. Yes he looks out for his clients best interests financially but you can’t help believe he’s also trying to line his own pockets and is seemingly uninterested on where his clients end up as long as it’s for the right price.
Look at the debacle four years ago, where Richmond welcomed Martin back with open arms. That should have been a warning about the advice and path Martin was being lead down and gave people an insight on how Mr Carr conducts business.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
There are clubs that will obviously offer much more than Richmond. I feel Carr will tend to encourage his clients to lean towards the financial side purely as it benefits himself as well.
In life money is not always the most important thing and a person’s agent should be looking out for his client’s needs both personal and financial.
If this is the case then from a non-biased point of view Dusty would be best suited signing on with Richmond. The Tigers may not be able to offer the top dollar but he certainly will not be worried about where his next meal will come from. Tigerland is his home, the fans worship him, the club has grown with him and he is so popular with his teammates.
He is obviously happy there and if the price is right but not the highest on offer you would believe a deal could be reached.
I’m not saying Dusty should re-sign right now, but he needs to give the club and all the fans at least an idea of where he is leading. The unknown creates so many thoughts that tend to be negative and looking at the history of how these issues play out, talking about massive offers for Martin make it uncomfortable for fans and club.
Daniel Plater
Roar Rookie
Me to Philby hopefully he stays a tiger for life as long as they pay him a mill a year or close to it I hope he will choose to stay and go down as a tiger great or even greatest of all time.
Daniel Plater
Roar Rookie
Well as it stands Winston I think he currently only has 3 players using his services. He's definitely a good negotiator I'm not disputing that I am just going back to that situation in 2013 when he seemingly shopped Martin around to other clubs when clearly Martin didn't want to leave Richmond. If Martin didn't want to leave why was Carr trying to shop him around to other clubs. Because they believed the dollar value at the time offered by Richmond was not up to standard. Was that Carr's decision that the money offered wasn't up to standard because clearly like I said Martin didn't want to leave and ended up signing a 2 year extension for less than Richmond initially offered before he tried to take Martin to other clubs doorsteps. I'm just saying again that money is obviously important but not the sole motivator in regards to signing a contract. I could be wrong but Martin doesn't seem purely motivated by money. Carr's job is to put deals in front of Martin like you said but I hope he's letting Dusty decide for himself I just feel he has a strong say in what happens and he will choose the dollars every time. We are going around in circles but I understand what your saying but based on information I have read and seen that's my opinion on Ralph Carr and the way he conducts business.
Mattician6x6
Guest
Maybe Ross Kemp will return and do a show about dusty to pair with the bikie episode with his dad in it.
Winston
Guest
I understand it's your opinion, but you wrote an article directing your rage at Carr, and so it is not acceptable you defend your position by simply saying "but that's just my opinion". It's a free market, so if he has a serial behaviour of doing things not for the good of his clients, then quite simply he will go out of business because word of mouth from the players will mean nobody will use him. So for so long as he keeps getting gigs, it means players like what he's doing. In that case, I would suggest his instructions from Martin does not involve saying, "find me the place that will make me happy." (Can't help but think of Happy Gilmore here!) That would just be bullocks. It is much more reasonable that he is hired to do the job of, "go find me the best deals possible. Secondly, what is your advice on what I should do to get myself the strongest bargaining power." And clearly, that would be a much more sensible state of affairs. You can then easily motivate Carr to do so by aligning his remuneration to the outcome - that of finding the best deal for his client. If Martin goes somewhere and he ends up being unhappy, depressed, plays bad, etc, it won't be beyond reason for him to then come out and point his finger at Carr and say it's all his fault. So even if that does happen, I still wouldn't agree it proves that Carr is putting his self interest ahead of his client. It's the client's choice.
Philby
Guest
Yeah, apparently when Dusty visited the Giants when Carr was touting him around, Dusty just told everyone in sight that he loved the Tigers. Can't say that I rate Carr but hopes it all works out anyway.
Philby
Guest
If he went, he'd have to be worth the No. 1 draft pick in compensation, wouldn't he? If you were the 18th placed team and Dusty was in the draft, do you reckon they'd grab him before any of the young kids going around?
Philby
Guest
Yeah, fair call.
Daniel Plater
Roar Rookie
Hey Gecko not unethical but just get the feeling that he is all about money and looking at situation in 2013 feel he has a massive influence on Dusty's decision and isn't looking out for Martin's best interests as a whole. I could be wrong but it's my opinion. Of course it's his job to find offers but I strongly feel he's trying to sell to highest bidder not best personal option. May be a tad bias I guess lol.
Daniel Plater
Roar Rookie
Hey Joe I agree I completely I think Fyfe to stay for sure Kelly more likely to leave if they win comp and dusty if Essendon a offer is true could be tempting.Yep long end to the year for fans waiting to see where the stars end up. I think Fyfe captaincy has sealed his fate into resigning.
Daniel Plater
Roar Rookie
Hey Cat not sure if GWS could offer much more than 850k so it would be a massive paydrop for dusty but yep he would certainly most likely be part of a successful dynasty at GWS. Be a massive move if that ever eventuated be unbeatable I think lol.
Gecko
Guest
So Daniel 'from a non-biased point of view' you think Dusty's agent is only interested in the highest offer and that this is unethical. Let's not blame Carr for doing his job. Surely the agent is only doing his job to find out what offers are available and it's the player's task then to weigh up the offers.
joe b
Guest
Yeah... Freo in same boat as Richmond re trying to get star player to re-sign. It will be interesting to see who, Dusty or Fyfe, makes a move first... or Kelly. I think Dusty to stay, Fyfe pretty likely to stay, and Kelly to possibly leave (esp if GWS win GF). Either way, no decisions until end of season.
Cat
Roar Guru
What if GWS lose Kelly and tab Martin as their fallback? If Martin is chasing flags it might be tough not to consider it if such a scenario ever came up. You mentioned the tigers needing to explore fall back plans, so too do GWS and Freo who could see superstars leave.
Daniel Plater
Roar Rookie
Well looking at the age of the majority of our players at the moment in first and second grade performing I would say looking at results etc you could fairly say trending upwards but it's a very close comp at the moment. The acquisitions of caddy Prestia and Nankervis this year all younger than 24 have been a big boost. Bar a dramatic drop in form from most fingers crossed the tigers are building towards something special. Another key forward to help Jack along with a solid backline and midfield puts the tigers in the mix for sure. But I may be being a biased tiger fan haha.
Daniel Plater
Roar Rookie
I suppose cat if a team is willing to offer an unbackable amount it will be hard for dusty to knock back. I suppose Kelly in similar predicament especially with GWS being the powerhouse they are.
Cat
Roar Guru
Daniel Plater
Roar Rookie
Haha I hope your right Joe I thought buddy would sign for hawks to you just never know hey. Fair call tiges need to stand up and at least win a final and get over that hurdle.
Joe B
Guest
Have shown signs in regular season... he might want to see the teams finals effort, coupled with recruiting plans moving forward. I think he will re-sign... but my tipping has been rubbish this season!
Daniel Plater
Roar Rookie
Fair call Brad I can understand what your saying but when you read articles and see videos that he says he is happy at tigers, wants to be a tiger for life and you can plainly see and read he has some great mates at the club and the club is steadily on the incline there's no reason he should look elsewhere if the club can pay him close to what he is worth. He's built a relationship with tiger fans over the last 8 years and he could go down as a tiger great or even the greatest of all time it's alot to potentially give up also. It feels as though everyone else believes he should go for more success or mainly money but if tigers can provide success which is as much chance as most and reasonable money I don't see why he would or should go.
Brad
Guest
This article just seems like a biased piece about why Dusty should stay with Richmond. "Tigerland is his home, the fans worship him, the club has grown with him and he is so popular with his teammates." - He will find a home at any club especially any willing to pay him what has been rumoured - The fans of whatever club he goes to will worship him - He could be the x factor that takes a top club to a premiership - He could be popular at any club with the other players There is nothing in there that suggests to me that Dusty would be better off staying at Richmond, that's not to say he won't but those reasons are farcical. To suggest he would be happier is rubbish as well, unless you are personally in contact with Dusty you know no more than anyone else as to his happiness at the club.