Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch believes star midfielder Dustin Martin isn't acting like a player who is unsure about his future, and said it would be a surprise if he left the Tigers.
Martin is out of contract at the end of the season, but it hasn't impacted his on-field performance, as the 26-year-old is one of the favourites for the Brownlow Medal.
Leppitsch, who coached the Lions between 2014-2016, saw a number of players leave Brisbane including midfielders James Aish and Jack Crisp, but said Martin isn't displaying any of the same signs a lot of his former players did before leaving.
โItโs not like heโs displaying distant behaviour, which Iโve seen quite a bit of with players wanting to go,โ Leppitsch said onย SEN on Thursday morning.
โIn my time at Brisbane Iโve seen a lot of the behaviours that attaches to that.
โHe hasnโt shown any of those signs, in fact, heโs more entrenched in the team emotionally than ever.
โIt would be a surprise (if he left) but we live in a world of not just emotion, but money and other things that drive players.
โBut Dusty is so much part of the furniture it would feel strange if he actually left.โ
Given Leppitsch's involvement in Brisbane over the past three seasons, he says it's easy to tell when a player isn't committed to their current side, although says that isn't the case with Martin.
The Tigers assistant coach believes Martin is actually more committed to Richmond than ever before.
โWe know relationships well and we know when they are and arenโt working and someone might be being distant and maybe not giving everything theyโve got,โ Leppitsch added.
โWe all sense what those little things are and thatโs when alarm bells start to ring. Whether it be a player used to turn up and do extras a lot more than they used to or they are less engaged in meetings than they used to be.
โAll those little things you start to pick up on and think the person is starting to disengage a little. None of that has been there with Dusty, if anything it's gone the opposite, so emotionally heโs invested in us and letโs hope thatโs the reason he stays as much as any.โ
Martin is enjoying the best season of his career so far in 2017, and is averaging 29.9 disposals, 6.8 clearances, 6.5 inside 50s and 3.9 tackles per game, and has added 23 goals.
