‘Let Buddy walk’: AFL legend weighs in on Franklin’s contract saga

AFL great Matthew Lloyd has urged the Sydney Swans to hold firm as speculation over Buddy Franklin’s contract continues to mount.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 16: Lance Franklin of the Swans looks on warms up before the round 18 AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Matthew Lloyd has urged the Sydney Swans not to sell the farm to keep Buddy Franklin, as speculation continues to rage about the key forward’s future.

Reports emerged earlier this week Franklin could be willing to leave the Swans for another club or retire after Sydney “lowballed” the superstar.

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A Herald Sun report claimed Franklin was being offered at $500,000 a season, while Franklin is demanding at least $700,000 as part of a one-year extension package.

Despite the offer, the Swans want Franklin to finish his career in Sydney, but he hasn’t ruled out joining a third AFL club.

While Franklin has been injury prone in recent years, the scenes of fans flooding onto the SCG when he kicked his 1000th career goal earlier this year showed he is still one of the sport’s biggest drawcards.

Franklin kicked a goal in the Sydney Swans’ shock 11.16 (82) to 9.11 (65) win over Fremantle in Perth on Saturday, to move just one goal shy of Gary Ablett Sr. in fifth on the all-time goal list.

But he refused to be drawn into any discussion about his future in a post-game chat with Fox Footy’s Matthew Pavlich.

Buddy Franklin opted not to open up on his contract status. Photo: Fox Footy.

Speaking on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show, Lloyd argued Franklin’s form isn’t good enough to justify a huge pay packet and the Swans should stand their ground.

“He’s not playing amazing football,” the Essendon great said.

“Even the day he kicked his 1000th goal, he wasn’t playing great footy but he bobbed up and kicked his three or four (goals) late.

“He’s been in the coaches’ votes three times and we’re in round 17. He was last in the coaches’ votes in round 11.

“They’ve got to be reasonable — him and his manager — (about) what he is worth at 36 years of age.”

Lloyd said if it came to it, the Swans should “let Buddy walk” if that was the only way to hold onto promising young players in a salary cap squeeze.

“If he’s been offered $500,000, I’d maybe go to $600,000 because he’s Buddy Franklin — he puts bums on seats,”he said.

“But no more than that, and I wouldn’t lose any other players for the sake of extending myself to Lance Buddy Franklin.

Buddy Franklin is yet to re-sign with the Swans. (Photo: Phil Hillyard )

“There’s also Logan McDonald, who’s playing in the seconds. He’s got to be playing AFL football every week next year.”

Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes agreed, adding: “I don’t know if he is actually demanding the best defender anymore.”

Earlier in the week, Franklin’s wife Jesinta, who has also become an accredited player agent, told Channel 7’s The Morning Show Buddy has “got options”.

“We’re really happy in Sydney – at the moment – and we’ve got our life set up here, so we’ll just have to see what happens,” she said.

“I still feel like he’s got lots to give, and he still feels like he’s got great footy (left in him), and he feels so good.

“He keeps saying, ‘I feel like I’m 21,’ which is great. And the stats really show that as well.”

Originally published as ‘Let Buddy walk’: AFL legend weighs in on Franklin’s contract saga