Hawthorn has let Lance Franklin become a Sydney Swan with the AFL approving the mega deal
HAWTHORN has handed Lance Franklin a departing swipe as it confirmed it would not match a deal for the Sydney-bound star.
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HAWTHORN has handed Lance Franklin a departing swipe as it confirmed it would not match a deal for the Sydney-bound star.
Franklin is now officially a Swan after the league begrudgingly ticked off the Sydney deal despite describing it as an ''extraordinary risk''.
But every cent of the $10 million deal will be in the club's salary cap, even if he suffers a career-ending injury as soon as this month's International Rules series.
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If Franklin retires early he will not receive his salary but it will be included in the cap.
If he suffers a career-ending injury he will be entitled to the money, which will still be in the salary cap.
It is understood the contract's most lucrative seasons rise to around $1.2 million towards the back end of his deal.
Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox wrote to members confirming they would not match the deal, and stressing the club's success was built around selflessness.
"I would like to reiterate that our cub has been, and always will be, about the collective. It was what helped us achieve the 2013 premiership, and it will be what wins us our twelfth premiership when we are fortunate enough to salute again,'' he wrote.
"We have always been guided by an established list management strategy that puts the needs and interests of the cub first. Today we applied that approach.
Hawthorn has formally notified the AFL it will not match the offer to Lance Franklin by the Sydney Swans.He is now eligible to join the club
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) October 8, 2013
"In this landscape of free agency, we think this presents an exciting opportunity for the Club to be an active player in the trade and free agency period now and in the future.''
Greater Western Sydney's medical advice was that even a six-year contract would be a risk given his degenerative knee issues but the Swans will roll the dice.
It means with the cost-of-living allowance to be removed - likely for the 2015 season - Sydney could have as much as $2.2 million less to pay players per season between 2020-22 if Franklin retires early.
Franklin will be 36 at the end of the contract, with AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan admitting the deal was an "extraordinary risk Sydney are taking''.
The Herald Sun revealed last week the league was prepared to block the deal, but assurances and written guarantees from Sydney board members brought approval after four days of review.
The Hawks have long since ruled out matching the bid, upset only by the compensation pick of no. 18 and the fact their premiership celebrations were hijacked by the furore.
They will not consider any arrangement which saw them matching the bid then trying to trade him to either Sydney or GWS.
McLachlan told the Herald Sun the Hawks could still match the deal, but said in multiple radio interviews there was a risk the deal might end in tears.
''I think it's an agreement with a significant level of risk but I have spoken to Andrew Ireland who says we believe he can (play for nine years) and we have had experience with Alastair Lynch who played for 11 years,'' he said.
''We have to let football clubs make decisions. They are obliged to pay the amount lodged and they are obliged to pay all of that money for nine years. They understand the risk of injury when they signed up for it.''
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"We have to let football clubs make decisions. They are obliged to pay the amount lodged and they are obliged to pay all of that money for nine years. They understand the risk of injury when they signed up for it.’’
The league will meet with Sydney every season to go through its obligations to Franklin.
The league’s concern is that paying Franklin and Kurt Tippett so much in the salary cap might affect the club’s ability to be competitive when their batch of stars retire.
