DONS’ DUSTY LINK
THE man who lured dual Geelong premiership coach Mark Thompson back to Essendon has close links to Richmond free agent Dustin Martin.
Wealthy property developer and influential Essendon coterie figure Mark Casey — brother of former Tigers president Clinton Casey — is a friend and confidant of Martin, right. Casey brokered the deal for Thompson to quit as Cats coach in 2010 and return to Essendon as a senior assistant to James Hird.
Third favourite for the Brownlow Medal behind Gee- long’s Patrick Dangerfield and Adelaide’s Rory Sloane, Martin, 25, previously has turned to Casey for advice on property deals.
Bombers chief Xavier Campbell said on Wednesday his club had discussed the possibility of recruiting Martin.
“It’s very preliminary stages with Dustin ... [but] he is a genuine matchwinner and we’ll see what happens,” Campbell said.
Essendon officials yesterday played down their interest in Martin, but Thompson warned the Tigers not to leave themselves open to a raid.
“There are some very influential people in and around Essendon that can be very hard to say no to,” he said.
Thompson and Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro pocketed $6.92 million each in March after the sale of a land development scheme at Armstrong Creek, between Torquay and Geelong.
Casey, who controlled the other 51 per cent of the project, made $14 million.
He is a former president of the Essendonians supporter group.
Martin has put off contract talks with the Tigers until the end of the season.
Asked for an update this week, his manager Ralph Carr said: “I’ve got no comment in the terrible fright that I might be misquoted.”
Martin will command more than $1 million a year on the open market, but is considered likely to stay at Punt Rd if the price is right.
The powerful goalkicking midfielder will earn a relatively modest $630,000 this season.
North Melbourne has also expressed interest in making a play for Martin.
Richmond can increase its offer thanks to a 20 per cent player pay rise set to be agreed by the AFL Players’ Association and the league.
A source close to Martin said the star midfielder had backed himself in to produce a career-best season despite speculation on his future.