Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is hopeful what he views as a mutually beneficial relationship between Dustin Martin and the Tigers will ultimately help sway the superstar in re-committing to the club.
The All-Australian midfielder has put contract talks on hold as he heads into the final season of a contract extension he signed in early 2015.
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Hardwick said new football manager Neil Balme and football talent manager Dan Richardson had done a "truckload" of work to get a new deal done with Martin's manager Ralph Carr.
While Richmond's third longest serving coach admitted he was unsure where negotiations were at with Martin, he liked to think they're taking place in a positive manner.
![Dustin Martin has put contract talks on hold.](/web/20170223170856im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/i/g/f/v/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gujfti.png/1487819648652.jpg)
"Dustin has been a great player for the Richmond footy club and the Richmond footy club's been great for Dustin. He's become the man he is today so he's a good fella," Hardwick said on Thursday at Punt Road Oval.
"All I can do is support Dustin, I'm very proud of what Dustin has achieved … we'll continue to support Dustin in those endeavours."
Hardwick didn't view the 25-year-old's contract talks as a distraction for the club.
"Three years ago clubs would've probably seen it as a distraction but I think players are that professional now," Hardwick said.
"Dustin is the ultimate professional, he'll go about his business, he plays some really good footy, he trains hard.
"Whatever happens in the modern era we're in, happens."
Hardwick was unsure if the lack of resolution between the AFL Players' Association and the league over the new collective bargaining agreement was playing its part in Martin's reluctance to commit to a new deal at Tigerland.
Carr wouldn't be drawn on the issue.
"I've got no comment on anything to do with contracts for any player or client that we have so I wouldn't comment on that even if I could," he said.
Martin, who is now one of the best players in the competition, has the option of becoming a restricted free agent at the end of this year. Essendon and St Kilda are two clubs reportedly planning on landing a big fish during this year's free agency period.
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