RICHMOND great Matthew Richardson can't understand why Dustin Martin would want to leave Punt Road, condemning the handling of his contract by his management.
Speaking to radio station 3AW on Thursday night, the club legend said Martin "had every right" to shop himself around but he didn't stand to gain much.
The 22-year-old's contract negotiations took a new twist this week when he asked the club for more time to consider offers from rival clubs.
The Tigers released a statement claiming the club was "extremely disappointed" by Martin's decision, before Martin denied he had walked out on the club via Twitter.
Given the way the situation has unfolded, Richardson said Martin should have thought it through more thoroughly.
"I think he's getting poor advice from his manager absolutely no doubt about that, I find it hard to believe," Richardson said.
"Why would you want to leave a club where you've had a good year, you've just played in a final in front of 95,000 people, you played pretty well, probably nearly best on ground at half-time?
"I think the club's supported Dustin pretty well over his four years so far … he's got every right to go out there and explore what he could get in the market and who's interested in him.
"But I don't think there's that much between what he will be able to get in the open market, money wise, and what Richmond's offer is."
Martin met with Greater Western Sydney officials on Thursday after reports suggested Melbourne wouldn't pay his apparent $600,000 asking price.
It is also believed the Brisbane Lions are interested in Martin, who was taken with pick No.3 at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.
