Dustin Martin’s management have unquestionably been in dialogue with other clubs says Tom Rehn, and believes Adelaide are showing a lot of interest in the star midfielder.
SEN’s Adelaide correspondent says that while he believes the move is unlikely to happen, the Crows consider Martin the perfect solution to their midfield problems.
“I’ve spoken to a couple of people close to the Crows and Martin’s camp and there’s definitely been some dialogue,” Rehn said on SEN Breakfast.
“I think there have been a number of clubs, my understanding is as many as half a dozen. He’s one of the most marketable and prized recruits going around and he’s still got a year to run on his contract as you know but there is absolutely a lot of interest coming from the Crows.
“On the weekend I think they were exposed in their midfield, they were bashed up…he’s seen as the kind of guy that would fit in there brilliantly.
“Is it going to happen? Look, very unlikely but there’s no question the Crows are interested and willing to have a chat.”
Tim Watson says that Adelaide may instead be working towards recruiting the 2016 Jack Dyer Medallist next season under free agency instead of chasing him this year.
“What we do know now is that clubs are working 12 months and two years out from securing players, that’s how long they work on a deal,” he said.
“You can get Dusty Martin at the end of next season after he’s played one more year for the Richmond Football Club, he is a free agent so you can secure him.
“A manager is not doing his job unless he goes out into the marketplace and tests the marketplace for his player to establish a figure he believes his player should be receiving…right now, Dustin Martin’s value to someone else might be more than Richmond are prepared to pay.”
The former Essendon captain also believes that Martin may not have been played in his best position by the Tigers this year despite a career-best season at Punt Road.
“I don’t think they played him particularly well, they ended up setting him up as a player almost across half back getting cheapies, trying to run around the outside and get a handball, that type of thing,” Watson said.
“I don’t think that necessarily plays to the strength of him and also the strength of the team.”
Martin’s manager Ralph Carr chose to make no comment when contacted by SEN Breakfast.