Dustin Martin re-signed with Richmond for another two AFL seasons on Monday and, a few hours later, claimed a career-best second placing in the club's Jack Dyer Medal.
"I like playing here. It's my home," the star midfielder said, adding his father Shane would be moving from Sydney to Melbourne to support him.
Martin however was booed by Tigers' fans at Monday night's casino function when he thanked his manager Ralph Carr.
Essendon made a late bid to recruit Martin before the 22-year-old ended months of speculation by re-signing with Richmond.
Carr met Essendon assistant coach Mark Thompson on Sunday.
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"Essendon wanted to talk to us," Carr told SEN radio.
"Dustin wanted us to talk to other clubs and we did that and there was nothing wrong with that."
Carr said the deal accepted by Martin on Monday was for the same money that was offered several weeks ago, which the Martin camp had previously rejected.
"It was never about the money. People assume that," Carr said of the deal reportedly worth $1 million over two years.
Martin's negotiations with the Tigers had lasted several months.
The youngster flew to Sydney last week and had a tour of Greater Western Sydney's facilities before the Giants announced they would not try to recruit him.
Melbourne and St Kilda had also announced they weren't interested and Brisbane said on Sunday they would not pursue a trade for Martin.
Some clubs had baulked at the former Bendigo junior who's considered an off-field risk, having been handed a two-match club ban in 2012 for sleeping in and missing training.
Thompson said he met Carr and Martin's father in a cafe.
"That was the trade talk, that he was a bit disgruntled with Richmond and they were at loggerheads," Thompson told Fox Footy's AFL 360 program.
"We rated him as a player ... so why not?"
Richmond football manager Dan Richardson said Martin's decision to shop himself around would not affect his relationship with teammates.
"They also understand sometimes the business of footy and the nature of it," Richardson told reporters.
"There'll be no issue there."
Richmond captain Trent Cotchin urged Martin in July to re-sign and said sometimes players have to make sacrifices on salaries to stay at a successful club.
The Tigers announced Martin's re-signing just a few hours before their awards function.
Dan Jackson won the medal with 264 votes, nine ahead of Martin.
"The timing's great. We were keen to get it wrapped up before the best and fairest and put the speculation to bed," Richardson said on Monday afternoon.
"We've been very firm on our payment strategy.
"With any player, if you're forced to go beyond that, we always considered the prospect of perhaps losing him but we're pleased that hasn't been the case.
"We were disappointed that Dustin felt the need (to shop around).
"But he had his reasons and we respect those reasons."
