Sydney Swans don’t need to win a flag to justify the cost of Lance Franklin’s contract, says John Longmire

SYDNEY coach John Longmire has rubbished suggestions that the club needs grand final trophies to rationalise Lance Franklin’s pay packet.

Sydney's Lance Franklin during AFL Preliminary Final match Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats at the MCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

SYDNEY coach John Longmire has declared there is no pressure on the Swans to win a premiership in order to justify Lance Franklin’s pay packet.

Franklin signed a groundbreaking $10 million contract over nine years with the Swans back in late 2013, and there is a feeling from outside the club that Sydney needs grand final trophies to rationalise such an enormous outlay on one player.

Longmire has refused to rule out injured trio Jarrad McVeigh (calf), Callum Mills (hamstring) and Aliir Aliir (knee), but indicated that perhaps the skipper McVeigh is the best chance to come through.

He’s been terrific this year. Not only his performances but his training — he’s been so consistent and leading our young forward line around

Longmire on Buddy

McVeigh’s experience at the top level may see the Swans trust his opinion on how his calf is feeling, whereas rookies Mills and Aliir may not have the same ability to draw on what it takes to play through injury.

A decision will be made on all three on Thursday, based on how they get through Wednesday’s training.

With Franklin at the helm for 2014, the Swans were crushed by Hawthorn in the grand final — the greatest humiliation in the proud history of the red and white’s on the big stage.

Last year Franklin made the decision to sit out the finals as he rightly prioritised his mental health.

Sydney's Lance Franklin during AFL Preliminary Final match Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats at the MCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Franklin has extensive experience in grand finals, with Saturday’s clash against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG to be his fifth, but Longmire insists there’s no specific pressure on Buddy to deliver on his mega contract.

“There’s no team that would ever think that and no team ever will, and certainly not the Sydney Swans,” sand Longmire.

“He was recruited because we knew we were going through a transition phase as far as some older players going out the door, some stars of the past and some younger players coming through.

It begins... #ProudlySydney pic.twitter.com/Fb0cyfMd4p

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) September 25, 2016

“We thought he could help us be competitive and I think he’s certainly helped us be competitive.

“He was really keen to come to Sydney and they’re the reasons why. It (Franklin’s presence) gives us a chance but we know it’s about a full team effort, the full 22 this week.”

Franklin has again kicked a swag of goals this season to enhance his reputation as one of the greatest matchwinners of all time.

However, in many ways the 29-year-old has taken his game to another level again with his on-ball pressure and off-field leadership standing out in 2016.

Longmire is hopeful that Jarrad McVeigh will be fit for the grand final

“He’s been terrific this year. Not only his performances but his training — he’s been so consistent and leading our young forward line around,” Longmire said.

“Being able to contribute both on the field but also off the field with our group has been highly valuable and it’s been great to have him playing.

Longmire on Buddy's experience: He will share that with his teammates in his own way. He's been valuable to our team on and off field.

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) September 25, 2016

“He’ll talk to the players as required and who needs to be spoken to or who might want to draw on those experiences but he gets that message across in his own way. It’s important younger players feel very comfortable talking to him and I’m sure he’ll share those experiences.

“He knows his footy. He loves footy, he really watches a lot and knows football really well and for a lot of players talented players in particular that may not be the case always. But he’s one of those blokes who has talent and he works really hard … but he also knows his football and that’s what he brings for the younger players.”