Why Dustin Martin Should Leave The Tigers

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Why Dustin Martin Should Leave The Tigers

It’s hard to predict, with the team they have, if the Tigers are capable of making it beyond the first final within the next five to seven years, but one thing is for certain: if there was ever a time for Martin to call it quits with the Tigers, his time

How do you keep a 25-year old All-Australian midfielder on your list, on a team that is still some way off winning a premiership? Do you draft other potential ball gatherers and goal kickers around him to compliment that player? That seems like it would take years to do without guaranteed success. Do you offer him a zillion dollars, risk losing other players and just pray you win a flag with him? Players want premierships. Getting paid a fat sum of money is nice, but premierships are what players lace up their boots for.

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All of the speculation is, of course, about Tigers midfielder Dustin Martin. He becomes a free agent at the end of this season and has two options: a) walk into a new club that appears close to winning a premiership or b) take a handsome pay cheque and write off the next five years at Tigerland and most likely to retirement beyond that. The first choice seems brave, intriguing and potential game changer. The second is safe, loyal and somewhat predictable.

You see, Martin has lived and breathed the Tiger narrative for 162 games. He's won a best and fairest, made the All-Australian team and back-to-back Yiooken Awards; the latest one he claimed on Saturday. Since 2001 the Tigers have made the finals three times -2013, 2014, 2015 – but are yet to make it beyond the Elimination Final. It's hard to predict, with the team they have, if the Tigers are capable of making it beyond the first final within the next five to seven years, but one thing is for certain: if there was ever a time for Martin to call it quits with the Tigers, his time is now.

* The Tigers have battled mediocrity for some time. They've had promising squads and high performers – the Wayne Campbell era, The Joel Bowden years, Richo, Brett Deledio and the rise of Cotchin - but delivered little. And strangely, in a surreal Groundhog Day kind of way, nearly every season plays out in the same fashion: Tigers start well; Tigers go on a losing streak; Tigers make a late charge for finals; Tigers finish 9 th. Most years, this is how the Tigers story plays out. And most years their faithful fans accept their plight: they're a perennial work in progress that could someday win a Grand Final. But what if you're Dustin Martin? A 25-year old kid who's seen more than enough false starts. A midfield-goal kicker who's best football is still ahead of him. A surging talent who wants to win a premiership.The same old shtick would get tiresome wouldn't you say?

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As you could imagine Martin is attracting a lot of healthy activity. It is reported three Victorian clubs – Bombers, Roos and Saints – have, in one way or another, expressed enthusiasm for Martin. The Bombers deny offering Martin $1.6 million per season and the Roos are allegedly willing to throw some big cash at the Tiger star. The potential future home for Martin is the key in all this. What club would he go to that has the most potential to win a flag in the next five years? Answer that question and there is your lure.

The Demons would seem like an ideal candidate, but they are swimming with midfielders. I'm sure they'd find room for Martin, but with investment in Jack Viney, the longevity of Nathan Jones and the emergence of Clayton Oliver, Martin wouldn't find the Demons an attractive proposition. The Bombers have Watson, Goddard and even Zaharakis entering the final stages of their career. Once they depart, consider a midfield of Merrett, Heppell, Parish and Martin.

The Saints have a Demons problem where their midfield seems set. The Roos have money to spend and a handful of young ball winners but no-one significant that can average 30 disposals per game (their highest is Ben Cunnington with 24). The ceiling for the Roos and Bombers are unlimited at this point. Both clubs are still figuring out their best squad that is littered with young players who have pace, goal kickers and ball magnets. For the Tigers, unless they a) make finals and b) make a Preliminary Final to give Martin a reason to stay, you would think he would exercise his right to shop around for another club come October.

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Although the decision to walk free or stay true is daunting, Martin only needs to look to some of the AFL's elite players to see 25 is a crossroads kind of age: Dangerfield left the Crows at 25; Gary Ablett Jnr. left the Cats at 26; Chris Judd took off from the Eagles at 24; and Franklin said goodbye to the Hawks at 26. All good players have a window, a finite period where they're at their peak and top of their game. This is why these players left their respective clubs when they did. They had an opportunity and they took it. The enticing carrot dangle for Martin is that if he does leave the Tigers, he has the opportunity to be part of a small group of players that did great things at more than one club and leave a legacy with multiple teams and players.

Close friend to Martin and former Pies Brownlow medalist Dane Swan, played his entire career at Collingwood – 15 years, 258 games. He speculates that Martin will stay at the Tigers because he's a loyal man. It's an admirable quality to want to be a one-club player for a whole career. Swan got lucky and won a Premiership in 2010. Others aren't that lucky. But switching clubs to chase premierships is part of the modern AFL landscape. It's a business decision. If you're not collecting premiership medals, then: what are you playing football for? Martin needs to be true to himself and not cave into the whole stigma of leaving the club that gave him his shot. He's done his time. Martin needs to think of himself.

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In 2017, Martin has kicked 14 goals and leads most of the important statistical categories for the club. The next five years will be Martin's defining period. He could become a Brownlow medalist or Premiership player. He's in rich touch now, but there's even more room to expand. We're still yet to see his best and I think new scenery at the right club will see him win a flag. It's not to say the Tigers are terrible. I think they're building something and still figuring out their potential but not at the speed that would be enough for Martin to stay at the Tigers.