The disgraceful handling of troubled young footballer Dustin Martin reached a new low point on Thursday when the bewildered-looking 22-year-old was led around a football club he didn't really want to join.

And a club that, upon meeting Martin and upon brief reflection, came to the conclusion it did not really want him. Like Melbourne before it, Greater Western Sydney has enough of a job on its hands without taking on a high-maintenance player with social issues when what it craves is on-field leadership.

Staying? No club has put its hand up for Dustin Martin. Credit:Getty Images

Martin clearly wants to remain at Richmond, which has been as good as home to him since he was drafted as a wayward but prodigiously talented 18-year-old and which has put in place a series of mentors and minders for him and offered him a two-year contract worth about $1million. Internally, both coach and captain are asking him to stay. Externally, either Martin's manager Ralph Carr or his father Shane must cut their losses and make it happen. While life in many ways would be significantly less stressful for the Tigers without Martin, he remains theirs and their problem. This columnist now seriously questions whether he is worth the trouble and if Martin does return to Tigerland with his tail between his legs it would serve everyone in his camp right if the offer is reduced.

Further, the AFL Players Association's agents board should make a point of analysing this debacle as a test case and seriously question Carr's accreditation. He has handled this so unprofessionally and should have realised how much potential harm he could cause his client.