AFL 2022: Jesinta Franklin completes AFL player agent course
Jesinta Franklin is dipping her toe into the footy world by completing the AFLPA’s agent course, but is she ready to advocate for husband Lance in his contract negotiations?
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Could Jesinta Franklin be AFL’s next big dealmaker?
The Herald Sun can confirm that the 30-year-old businesswoman and wife of Sydney superstar Lance Franklin recently completed the three-day course and exam required to be an AFL player agent, which is administered by the AFL Players’ Association.
Aspiring agents first must apply to the AFLPA to attend the three-day online player agent course, which was held in June. It involves a range of education sessions that are delivered by figures from across the football industry.
Topics covered include the role of agents, AFL football operations regulations, talent identification and player development and welfare.
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Applicants then complete an entrance exam that goes for more than three hours, which can include questions based on the league’s collective bargaining agreements, AFL rules, player codes of conduct, the anti-doping code and illicit drugs policy.
The entirety of the course including the exam is priced at $3,300.
Applicants also have to provide proof of professional indemnity insurance and a police check.
Franklin revealed to News Corp recently that the family may endeavour to leave the harbour city in the near future.
“I think there’s still a lot of good football left in him, but it’s our dream, whether that’s in five years or 10 years or whenever … to be able to live closer to one of the grandparents have quality time with them,” she told Body and Soul in May.
Franklin’s path in business has included her own lifestyle app and a number of top ambassador roles with prominent Australian and international businesses.
It is understood that Franklin would not be involved in any negotiation involving her husband, who is out of contract at the end of this season.
Trade buzz: Which big names are on the move?
- Jon Ralph
Hawthorn has emerged as a strong early favourite to secure Port Adelaide free agent Karl Amon despite his hefty price tag.
Rivals believe Hawthorn has met Amon, a member of last year’s All Australian 40, with positive discussions on a long-term free agency deal.
St Kilda is also interested in half back and wingman Amon, whose mother Katrina works as the Saints’ indigenous welfare manager.
Figures as high as $650,000 over five seasons have been bandied about as the likely asking price for Amon, which would likely secure end-of-first-round compensation for the Power.
They have enough depth in that position so while they would ideally keep him it has been a mature discussion between the Power and Amon’s management about his likely intentions.
Essendon was an interested party early on Amon but has enough runners in that position and is not interested in paying that price for the 26-year-old.
Amon ranks elite for disposals, metres gained, scoreboard impact and pressure after a year in which he was at one stage dropped early in the season.
But he does rank below average for kicking, which is somewhat mystifying given it is seen to be his strong suit.
The Hawks said last week they were strongly into the free agency market and the draft rather than trading away senior players.
It means Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O’Meara and Chad Wingard are less likely to be traded off, although nothing would truly surprise in the trade period.
Jack Gunston is seen to be increasingly keen to remain at the club and if he can get back to playing regular football talks could start in the near future.
The unrestricted free agent turns 31 in October so would likely depart for very little free agency compensation, so it is up to the Hawks to broker a deal that satisfies him.
But they believe he wants to leave a legacy of leadership after winning all those flags since crossing from Adelaide.
Izak ‘almost certain’ to stay a Sun
Gold Coast has been told by brilliant small defender Izak Rankine he wants to stay despite Essendon offering to make him the face of their Dreamtime at the ‘G game.
The Suns were spooked by speculation of a massive Essendon offer well above half a million dollars from the Dons, who want to boost their indigenous representation.
That deal had been relayed to them as the Suns attempt to broker a new short-term deal for Rankine, who has been white-hot in the last six games.
But Essendon is adamant it has made a single inquiry about Rankine and not even spoken about figures or given an offer.
The Dons were told he was almost certain to stay at the Suns.
The Suns deal is nowhere near that figure given it will reflect his huge potential but also the reality he has not been consistent in his first four seasons.
It wouldn’t be the first time an inflated figure was thrown into the market to leverage an increased offer from their existing club.
All signs point to Rankine staying even if rivals are being spoken to in an attempt to find out his true worth.
If he stayed he would be richly rewarded through his mid-20s when he had proven his talent for several seasons.
In his four seasons at the club he has battled for impact through early soft-tissue injuries but has finally flourished through improved fitness and selfless play.
He told the Herald Sun in March he wanted to remain at the Gold Coast, saying: “All the contracts will fall into place in due time. At the moment I am just loving playing footy and I love it here and that’s all that matters to me.
“The lifestyle is amazing and I am embracing the Suns’ culture and brand we are starting to form. I am really excited for the future, to kind of be the first. I want to be the first to play finals and the worst to win finals. That is what really excites me.”
The Dons have at least $2 million of cap space after the retirement of Anthony McDonald Tipungwuti and the exodus of star players at the end of 2020, with coach Ben Rutten under pressure to keep his job next year.
But they have gone cold on GWS small forward Bobby Hill given they are about to take father-son pair Alwyn Jr and Jayden Davey.
Alwyn is putting in eye-catching performances in the Under-18 championships and Jayden has torn his ACL twice in his junior career but was considered the more accomplished player.
Rivals will be scared off from taking Jayden with his risk profile but the Dons won’t overlook him, having already taken Kaine Baldwin off two ACL tears as a summer rookie.
Cats’ Goldy dream over
Geelong has called off the chase for Todd Goldstein.
The Cats have long been linked to the North Melbourne ruckman, who is now an unrestricted free agent, and even offered him more money and a longer-term deal to move down the highway.
That overture included discussions with Chris Scott and Joel Selwood, given the pair share the same manager in Tom Petroro.
But the Cats believe their ruck situation has improved markedly with Rhyce Stanley playing the best football of his career and Mark Blivavs playing 40 per cent of his time in the ruck this year.
The Cats are impressed by their first-year ruckman in Toby Conway, having taken him with pick 24 in the national draft after securing that selection in the Jordan Clark trade to Fremantle.
Both Jon Ceglar and Stanley are contracted for next year, with Conway averaging 90 ranking points, 11 disposals and 22 hitouts in his five VFL games.
It would take something considerable for the Cats to change their tune, believing they have the ruck depth for the short-term and the succession plan.
Like many clubs the Cats are looking for midfield cover despite the impressive move of Tom Atkins into the centre square.
They have been linked to GWS midfielder Tanner Bruhn and Hawthorn’s James Worpel but any discussions are extremely preliminary.
If Tim Taranto did get forced out of GWS given cap issues he would be more likely to want to move to Melbourne rather than Geelong.
Tigers’ salary cap squeeze
Richmond has given the strongest sign yet that Jack Riewoldt will re-sign as their good form creates salary cap headaches.
All of Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Kane Lambert and Shane Edwards are out of contract with no firm decisions made either way.
Richmond is not only trying to sign Liam Baker despite significant interest from West Coast, their running half back in Daniel Rioli is in career-best form as a potential All Australian.
The Tigers always believed they could prize loose a GWS mid to bolster their team but both Rioli and Baker will likely require significant offers to stay.
Marlion Pickett is also out of contract and in career-best form, with talks set to start in coming weeks for a deal that will keep him at Punt Road.
Asked on AFL 360 on Monday if Riewoldt would secure a contract, Damien Hardwick attempted to dodge the question: “Did someone say KFC”.
But he made clear Riewoldt’s excellent form meant he was putting forward a compulsive case.
“Look, Jack is a wonderful player, has been an outstanding player for us and we have got a lot of decisions to make. We have got an ageing profile, a young demographic coming through. Some decisions will be made but Jack is playing very, very good football.”
Kane Lambert’s ongoing hip issues will create a devilishly tough decision on his future given he has played only seven games, one as the unused sub.
He won three possessions in 40 minutes when he replaced the hamstrung Dustin Martin on Sunday.
There are few tougher players given the pain he plays through but it will make it a tough decision for him to play on given he needs a hip replacement to live a normal life post-football.
No one really knows what is happening with Dustin Martin’s contract but Sydney couldn’t have been clearer that they are not interested in him.
President Andrew Pridham told the Herald Sun last month: “I can tell you categorically we haven’t had any discussions, so I think it’s highly unlikely. There is not a great history of clubs bringing people in at that age to try to grab a premiership and it working.”
Sydney chief executive Tom Harley laughed when asked about him on 3AW radio as recently as Saturday.
“No… No… I haven’t been asked about Dustin Martin for a month.”
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