Sydney CEO Tom Harley has once again emphatically ruled out any link to Richmond star Dustin Martin, just two days after the Tigers’ season came to a thrilling end.
Martin remains contracted at Tigerland for another two seasons, with coach Damien Hardwick expecting his superstar to stay the club.
But he endured a tough 2022 season, where he missed matches through injury and personal reasons following the sudden death of his father.
Speaking on 3AW, Harley said any rumours of Martin being linked to a potential new deal for Franklin at the Swans were not correct.
Watch every AFL final until the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
“They’re not even in the same conversation – Lance is obviously our player,” Harley said.
“I think he made the really sensible decision a few weeks ago to just focus on his football and put his future on hold.
“We’ve been really firm on our conversations that people have been having around our footy club in regards to Dustin Martin. He is a Richmond player, we haven’t spoken about him once, we don’t intend to.
“So no, there’s absolutely nothing to see there – not connected at all (to a deal for Franklin).”
When then asked if his stance would change should Martin and his manager approach Sydney, Harley once again said no.
“No, we’re focused very much on the group we’ve got,” he said.
“It’s an absolute hypothetical and we don’t deal in hypotheticals.
“On face value, you’d say absolutely not.”
It was reported this week that Martin was now “far more gettable than he was a month ago” for a club like Gold Coast, given the impending departure of Izak Rankine.
Nine reporter Sam McClure this week said he believed Martin needed to e “convinced” to stay at the Tigers on a deal worth more than $1 million.
“He now looms, this man, as the linchpin I think for what is going to happen in the trade period,” he said.
“We know he’s on $1.3 million for the next two seasons, he’s been umming and ahhing, he’s been telling people that he doesn’t love football anymore, maybe he needs a change of location, a change of geography.”
Journalist Caroline Wilson said now was the time for Martin to confirm his future, given Richmond’s season is now over.
“The club has been fantastic for him – I think a conversation needs to be had with Dustin Martin, Brendon Gale, Tim Livingstone, Damien Hardwick, Ralph Carr saying: ‘Are you back next year?’,” Wilson said on 3AW.
Speaking on the video scandal that erupted hours before the Tigers’ elimination final against Brisbane, Wilson said the timing was “terrible” for the club.
“I think Dustin’s lifestyle has been well known to anyone in the footy walls,” she said.
“It was very grubby, disgraceful by the person who leaked it.”
Harley also spoke on a potential new deal for coach John Longmire, after he led the Swans to the finals this season.
“We are constantly talking about the future. John is a coach that puts his absolute all into coaching the Swans,” Harley explained.
“We’ve had no issues and obviously very keen to sign him longer term when we did. At the right time, we’ll pick up those conversations going forward.
“I haven’t seen a coach as invested in a group of players as John is.”
