Richmond superstar Dustin Martin has agreed to stay a Tiger for life after inking an $8 million contract. The contract would see him in the Richmond jumper until the end of 2024.
Well Tiger Army, the real news is finally in…
🐯🔒 @DustinMartin4https://t.co/37F8x19BVS
— Richmond FC (@Richmond_FC) August 31, 2017
The deal surprised many in the AFL community as Martin turned down an extra $2 million according to his manager Ralph Carr.
The offer worth nearly $11 million by North Melbourne, would have been the most lucrative deal in AFL history.
The offer would have overtaken Lance Franklin’s $10 million deal, which lured him to the Sydney Swans.
However, for Martin, it was loyalty over money that made him stay.
“The Richmond Football Club have been great to me and I’ve got incredible relationships at the club,” Martin told the AFL Footy Show last night.
“The relationships I’ve got there are far more important.”
While the decision resulted in Martin remaining in Richmond, he and his manager admitted the option of leaving the club had crossed their mind.
“I certainly thought about it,” Martin told the Footy Show.
The two flew to New Zealand this past week to discuss his future with Father, Shane.
Richmond star Dustin Martin flanked by bodyguards on return from New Zealand – https://t.co/QzC93eQE7R https://t.co/dADZq0ESsl #AUS pic.twitter.com/FXwwiVQOpT
— Aus NewsXP (@AusNewsxp) August 30, 2017
“We flew over to see Dad, got a hotel room, bunked up in there and just put it all out on the table and had lengthy conversations and spoke about what I wanted and what would be best for my future. Within an hour or two we had a decision.”
“There were plenty of conversations but in the end Richmond’s home to me.”
Now that the deal is done, Martin has his sights set on his team’s upcoming finals campaign, with their first bout against Geelong on the 8th of September.
He told the Footy Show, “Hopefully we can win the flag but, to be playing football now in the MCG in front of screaming fans, it’s pretty special.”
