Meeting that kept Dusty a Tiger

SHANE Martin has revealed that Dustin’s manager Ralph Carr convinced him of the benefits of staying at Richmond.

Dustin Martin passed up $2.5 million to stay at Richmond instead of taking the AFL’s richest offer, which was put on the table by North Melbourne.

Martin Sr said that Carr, of RCM Sport, was key to convincing him and Dustin of the long-term benefits of staying with the Tiger, and how he could bridge the gap.

“We were in New Zealand and Ralph just put it all on a white board,” Shane Martin said. “We really respected him for the input of the bigger picture at the end of the day Dustin staying with Richmond.”

Dustin Martin signed a seven-year deal with the Tigers on the eve of the finals series.

The contract was one of the most talked about of the year, given Dustin’s electric form which earned him the Brownlow Medal this week.

Dustin was influential in the qualifying final against Geelong and kicked three goals to ice Greater Western Sydney in the preliminary final.

Shane Martin said that Carr talked himself out of some of his commission by recommending the Richmond deal.

“He wanted what was best for Dustin, and the club, not his own pocket,” he said.

“He’s beyond a manager, he’s not just there to get his percentage.”