Not all bad if Dusty goes
RICHMOND will have three first-round draft picks and a huge recruiting war chest if superstar Dustin Martin accepts North Melbourne’s $10 million seven-season mega-offer.
RICHMOND will be armed with three first-round draft picks and a recruiting war chest if raging Brownlow Medal favourite Dustin Martin accepts North Melbourne’s godfather offer.
It is believed the Tigers will not match the Kangaroos’ contract offer, believed to be more than $10 million over seven seasons, for their restricted free agent.
The AFL yesterday confirmed the maximum compensation the Tigers could receive for Martin would be a firstround pick tied to their ladder finish.
Rival list chiefs yesterday suggested the Tigers could then bank the cash saved on Martin and spend 12 months plotting a raid for Gold Coast superstar Tom Lynch.
The Suns’ co-captain becomes a restricted free agent next year and his retention could make or break the struggling franchise. Landing Lynch would also ease the pressure on Jack Riewoldt, who will turn 31 in 2019.
Lynch, 24, has been labelled the game’s No.1 player by Jonathan Brown and Dermott Brereton and could command the biggest contract in the game’s history when his Gold Coast deal expires.
Richmond’s desire to lure a power forward was laid bare when the club confirmed its interest in No.2 draft pick Josh Schache, 20, who signed again with Brisbane in June.
Richmond already owns Geelong’s first round pick, which it received for losing Brett Deledio last October.
Based on current ladder order, losing Martin would deliver the Tigers picks 15 (their own selection), 16 (Martin compensation) and 17 (Geelong’s selection).
They have not boasted such a strong draft hand since activating five top 20 picks — led by Deledio at No.1 — in 2004.
One of their early selections is likely to be used to match an expected first round bid for father-son gun Patrick Naish.
The Kangaroos’ desperation to land a big fish has seen them up their offer for Martin as hopes of trading for GWS star Josh Kelly start to wane.