Dustin Martin's manager Ralph Carr has rubbished reports he is keeping the Tigers are arms length over a new deal due to a previous feud with the club.
The Footy Show journalist Damian Barrett reported the news last Thursday night on Channel Nine, and suggested that Carr was enjoying the leverage he had over Richmond, due to an incident in 2013.
Martin was out of contract at the end of that season and famously toured the GWS facilities, before the Tigers effectively pulled their offer to Martin, and instead handed him one with less money.
Barrett said Carr still remembers that negotiation period and is getting one back on the club by holding off this time around, although Carr says the claim made by Barrett was "ridiculous".
“I’ve been a manager for 25 years — do you really think I would let emotion get in the way of such an important deal?” Carr told the Herald Sun.
“It’s just not true and Richmond Football Club knows it’s not true. Neil Balme has clarified that.”
Carr also said that talks between the two parties were progressing.
Richmond's current deal on the table is reportedly a long-term contract worth $1 million a season, and that would be the biggest deal in club history should Martin stay at the Tigers.
The Richmond midfielder is enjoying a career-best year at the Tigers in 2017, and is a hot favourite for the Brownlow Medal alongside Patrick Dangerfield.
