Retiring Essendon champion Jobe Watson says he would love it if Richmond superstar Dustin Martin chose to be a Tigers player for life.
But he defended Martin's right to explore all of his options.
Martin, a restricted free agent at season's end, flew to Auckland with manager Ralph Carr on Monday to discuss his future with his father Shane, who was deported from Australia last year.
The 26-year-old is weighing up reported seven-year deals from Richmond and North Melbourne with the contract offer from the Kangaroos understood to be worth significantly more money.
On the eve of the AFL finals the protracted contract negotiations aren't ideal for the Tigers, but Watson said the 175-game veteran had earned the right to take his time over the decision.
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"If he stays or if he goes he has put in an enormous amount of work for the Richmond Football Club," Watson told Channel Nine's Footy Classified.
"If he goes it's exciting for North Melbourne. I would still love for him to stay, but he's entitled to explore his options.
"I think there's romance with players playing at one club ... supporters fall in love with those players.
"He's been great for the Richmond Football Club and I think (they've) been great for him."
Watson, a 219-game veteran, has remained loyal to the Bombers even after the anti-doping bans handed to 34 past and present players arising from the club's ill-fated 2012 supplements program.
Martin is reported to have met with key Kangaroos players and staff during the season to hear the club's sales pitch.
While frowned upon by many fans, Watson said the practice is just part of the modern AFL landscape.
"I think he's allowed to be prepared," the soon-to-be retired Watson said.
"If he's not prepared then he's under-prepared and for this kind of decision you have to take in all of the different options and make a decision based on as much information as you can get."
Martin, the raging Brownlow Medal favourite, was named in the extended All-Australian squad on Monday and is expected to return to Melbourne for Wednesday night's All-Australian awards ceremony.
