The four AFL clubs that tried and failed to sign Dustin Martin revealed as Tigers superstar prepares for 300th game as a one-club player

Celebrated Richmond Tigers superstar Dustin Martinis is preparing for his 300th game as a one-club player despite numerous attempts by other AFL clubs to lure him away.

Known for his three Norm Smith medals, Martin has often been the subject of trade rumors throughout his career ahead of his 300th AFL game against Hawthorn.

This Saturday he joins an elite group of Tigers set to reach 300 games, including Kevin Bartlett, Jack Riewoldt, Jack Dyer, Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards and Francis Bourke.

But there were several occasions when the Richmond talisman almost played for another club, including during his draft year.

Richmond’s 2009 recruiting manager, Francis Jackson, played a crucial role in Martin becoming a Tiger.

Jackson resisted a significant trade offer from the Sydney Swans, who wanted to trade their picks six and fourteen for Richmond’s third pick.

“Sydney was really excited about Dustin, and they wanted to trade six and fourteen for our pick three,” Jackson recalled.

“Normally you would discuss that, and then you would take your time (to make a decision), but we didn’t even talk about it – it was never going to happen.”

Jackson’s conviction led to the selection of Martin, a decision that has defined the modern AFL landscape. Jackson went out of his way to secure Martin, even meeting his family before the draft.

“We did something unusual,” Jackson said.

‘I organized a lunch with his mother and his grandmother. I even told them that we were taking Dustin at pick 3 – unless something radically changed – and that Dusty would become a Tiger.”

In 2013, Martin was out of contract and toured the facilities of the GWS Giants, considering a move to Sydney to be closer to his father.

GWS offered a substantial deal, but it mysteriously fell through. Martin’s manager at the time, Ralph Carr, said they believed Martin was a GWS player.

“We thought the deal was done, we’d been there, Dustin was going to reunite with his dad in Sydney,” Carr said.

“The deal was done and the next thing I heard it was being pulled from the top.”

Former GWS coach Leon Cameron later revealed he had convinced Martin to stay at Richmond.

‘He liked the idea of ​​being anonymous in Sydney, so I asked him about ‘Dimma’ [then coach Damien Hardwick] and the playgroup,” Cameron said.

“He said he loved both. I said, ‘Then why would you want to leave?’ A few days later he said he was staying with the Tigers.”

Martin re-signed for Richmond on less money, a decision that proved crucial for both his career and the club.

In 2017, North Melbourne offered Martin $11 million over seven years, an offer matched by the Adelaide Crows.

Richmond’s offer was lower, but Carr convinced Martin to stay, believing the Tigers were better equipped to support his ambitions.

“Then we needed less to stay in Richmond, which I had to talk to Dusty about,” Carr said.

“I gave him the comparison of what we could do outside of football, and I thought that was a lot better.”

Hardwick admitted he was worried Martin would leave given the substantial financial offers from other clubs.

“There were a few stages where he probably backed off, if I’m completely honest, during the season,” he said.

“He always said, ‘Everything’s okay, everything’s okay,’ but there were a few moments where I thought, ‘Maybe he’s going away.'”

Martin’s commitment to the Tigers was strengthened after meeting his father in New Zealand, which led to his seven-year contract with Richmond just before winning the 2017 Brownlow Medal and leading the Tigers to a premiership.

“Martin announced his seven-year re-commitment to Richmond before winning the 2017 Brownlow Medal and playing a starring role in his club’s victory over the side who promised a lucrative fee to lure him away,” Hardwick said.

As Martin approaches his milestone match against Hawthorn, Tigers coach Adem Yze stressed the importance of the occasion.

‘We are looking forward to. It’s a huge game for him,” Yze said.

“His whole focus will be on performance and trying to get a win for the Tiger Army, and we will try to do the same for him.”

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell acknowledged the challenge of facing a Richmond team celebrating Martin’s achievement.

“Probably half of their team is Dusty’s teammates, so it’s going to be a big challenge for us,” Mitchell said.

“There’s the two hours of the actual game and there’s the event that happens around it, which we have no control over.”