AFL 2022: Tom Papley on Lance Franklin’s contract standoff with Sydney
One of Lance Franklin’s Sydney teammates has weighed in on the contract saga which threatens to cause the superstar to leave the Swans at the end of the season.
Sydney Swans forward Tom Papley says he expects Lance Franklin and the club “to come to an agreement” amid speculation the superstar will retire or move to a third AFL club at the year’s end.
News Corp this week revealed the Swans’ current offer to Franklin to play in 2023 is about $500,000, less than half of what he is being paid to play in 2022.
Franklin is reportedly seeking a deal worth between $700,000 and $800,000, a figure the Swans have currently baulked at.
Speaking in Perth on Friday ahead of the Swans’ big Saturday night clash with Fremantle, Papley said there had been “no mention at all” of the Franklin issue at the club this week.
“I think it’s his matter and his family’s matter that they look after,” Papley said.
“I can’t comment on that out of respect for him and the club, and I’m sure they’ll come to an agreement.
“I love playing with him and I’m sure the club wants him to stay as well.”
With 1029 goals under his belt, Franklin is only two goals away from equalling Gary Ablett Sr (1031) in fifth place on the all-time VFL/AFL goalkickers list.
Papley said he believed Franklin was primed for a big performance in his home state of Western Australia.
“I remember he kicked eight in the very first game at Optus Stadium, so eight would be nice,” he said.
“If he kicks eight I think we’ll go pretty close.
“It’s a big game and Lance Franklin in big games usually goes pretty well, so I’m looking forward to it.”
HOW BUDDY-DUSTY FUTURES COULD BE INTERTWINED
Lauren Wood
Sydney chief executive Tom Harley is adamant the club’s contract standoff with superstar forward Lance Franklin is not related to any push to poach Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin.
The Herald Sun revealed on Wednesday contract talks for next season between Franklin and the Swans had hit a wall.
The club’s offer to the eight-time All-Australian is believed to be about $500,000 — less than half of what he is being paid to play this season.
Franklin, 35, is understood to be seeking a deal worth between $700,000 and $800,000 to play on, and could retire or move to a third club if the Swans offer is deemed unsatisfactory.
Speculation has emerged in recent weeks linking Martin to sydney in 2023.
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Harley denied the club had spoken to Martin’s management team.
He maintained the Franklin contract drama was not in any way related to the triple premiership Tiger.
“Absolutely not,” Harley said on SEN radio.
“That is one thing I will comment on because there is absolutely no link between these two stories and these two players.
“I’ve said repeatedly and consistently, as I’ve said with Lance, that we have had no contact with nor conversations with Dustin Martin.
“He is not our player and it would be inappropriate for us to do that.
“I am a little bewildered about how the story around Dustin keeps resurfacing and resurfacing with a strong connection to the Swans because that is absolutely not the case.”
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said on Thursday that he had not addressed the ongoing saga with Martin directly.
“He knows our thoughts — he’s a Richmond player for two more years,” he said.
“That’s our method of operation at this stage, and that won’t change in the short term. Or the long term, hopefully.”
Harley said he “absolutely” wanted Franklin to finish his career at the Swans — and at the right time.
Asked if there was a chance Franklin would not be playing at Sydney in 2023, Harley said “I hope not”.
“ … the conversations that we’re having with Lance have remained very respectful with significant amounts of goodwill, great intent and mostly intent from the club and Lance’s point of view, private,” Harley said.
Asked if the club was “lowballing” Buddy, Harley said:
“As a club and as an individual, we always enter discussions highly respectfully and I would assume the respect coming back the other way is reciprocated.
“I can say that the conversations, I can only go on my interpretation of them, but the conversations have been highly respectful.”
While Tigers coach Damien Hardwick — who served as an assistant coach when Franklin at Hawthorn — said the Tigers are “happy with our lot”, he recognised the star forward’s pulling power for any club.
“This is taking names aside, great players are great players,” Hardwick. said.
“They bring people through the gates. There’s players that I love watching on TV. I love watching (Christian) Petracca. I love watching Buddy Franklin. I love watching Dustin Martin.
“As an AFL coach, I go to the telly or I go to a game looking forward to watching people play. He’s one of the greats for a reason.
“(His value) is up for other clubs and clubs to determine what the players’ value is worth. Every club will be different in their assessment of that.”
Rival coaches respond to possible Buddy move
Top dollar, or too much?
Lance Franklin’s contract drama has divided the football world.
As revealed by the Herald Sun on Wednesday, Lance Franklin could retire or move to a third AFL club if Sydney’s offer for 2023 of around $500,000 isn’t boosted, with his sights said to be set on between $700,000 and $800,000 for next season.
So if he were to leave Sydney, who could be in the mix? We take a look at a few clubs who could do worse than considering a play for one of the game’s most decorated figures.
COLLINGWOOD
As the Magpies mull a play for Brisbane key forward Dan McStay, a pivot to Franklin to park inside 50 would be a compelling pivot.
But that’s not to say he wouldn’t fit. Collingwood coach Craig McRae’s need for a key figure up forward is evident, and if it got a couple of years to further develop the likes of Oliver Henry and Nathan Krueger alongside Brody Mihocek and Darcy Cameron.
“Gee, he’d be nice, wouldn’t he?” McRae said on Thursday.
“I’ve just admired Buddy for so long.
“I’ll leave that to (club football boss) Graham Wright.
“But if he wants to come here, we’ll have him.”
FREMANTLE
A return to Franklin’s home state shouldn’t be dismissed. As Rory Lobb’s future in purple remains up for question, the Dockers could be hunting a key target as their premiership stocks only continue to rise under Justin Longmuir.
GOLD COAST
Franklin alongside Ben King as he makes his return from his ACL injury? What a chapter in his key forward apprenticeship.
Franklin’s wife Jesinta grew up on the Gold Coast, too.
But coach Stuart Dew has poured cold water on it for now: “To be honest I just can’t see him leaving Sydney. I’m sure they’ll work through it because it’s Lance Franklin.”
MELBOURNE
The Demons continue to tinker with their forward set-up as they juggle their look around Ben Brown in the absence of Tom McDonald.
And with the premiership window firmly still open to potentially nab another flag, Franklin could be considered to be the cherry on top.
Not that coach Simon Goodwin is buying into the chatter.
“As a footy fan I’d love to have him, he’s my favourite player of all time,” Goodwin said.
“But we haven’t even thought about it and we’re not going to talk about players from other clubs.
But from a footy purist’s perspective, I love Buddy Franklin and what he gives to our game.
“We need him in our game and I’d love to see him continue playing.”
ESSENDON
The Bombers’ cap situation is considered favourable among industry circles, with the Herald Sun reporting last month that Essendon has well over $2 million at their disposal. And while midfielders and defenders are considered the greatest targets, a key forward isn’t out of the question to sit along big man bargain Peter Wright.
BRISBANE
If Dan McStay were to go to Collingwood or elsewhere, the Lions could be on the hunt for another tall to sit up forward with Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood. What it would mean for their overall development could be the question.
HAWTHORN
A Hawks homecoming? Unlikely. Seeing Lance Franklin “do an Eddie Betts” and go back to where it all began was all but ruled out by Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell on Thursday, who cited the team’s list demographic — which includes emerging key forward Mitch Lewis — as a key factor to consider.
WHAT’S HE WORTH?
Franklin’s great mate Jordan Lewis reckons his former teammate should still get “top dollar”.
“He is still arguably in the top five key forwards in the competition so what’s he worth?,” Lewis said on Fox Footy.
“We are happy to pay 20-year-olds, 21-year-olds who haven’t yet proved themselves well and above what they have earnt to be paid on potential.
“He has shown it year on year to be able to command big dollars and he is still showing to me, and I think the wider football community, that he can still command top dollar.”
Take Demons young gun Luke Jackson, for example. On the rise, yes, but with multi-millions reportedly on the table.
As one club official put it to the Herald Sun on Thursday morning, Franklin would be worthy of just about every cent, both on the field and for the marketability factor — but only for the right club.
“It’d be north of $600,000, surely. And maybe even more. His value is worth almost double off the field as it is on it, and look how well he’s still going,” they said.
“But you can’t jeopardise the rest of your list.”
Another said the fact he hadn’t played as much in 2019, with just 10 games, before 18 in 2020, should be taken into consideration, as should his previous soft-tissue injuries and the fact he will be 36 heading into next season.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick noted Franklin’s “watch factor”.
“This is taking names aside, great players are great players,” he said.
Franklin ‘shock’: Hawk mate says Buddy can command ‘top dollar’
By Rebecca Williams
Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis says his former teammate Lance Franklin should still command “top dollar” as one of the “top five” key forwards in the league.
Admitting he was shocked by reports Franklin was at loggerheads with Sydney over the club’s contract offer to him to play in 2023, Lewis said the champion goal kicker remained one of the elite key forwards in the game and should be paid accordingly.
News Corp reported Franklin could retire or move to a third club if the Swans did not increase their contact offer to the 35-year-old.
And Lewis identified Collingwood and Fremantle as the clubs who could benefit the most from swooping on Franklin should he part ways with the Swans.
Lewis, a premiership teammate with Franklin at Hawthorn, said Franklin’s performances still warranted big money.
“It has come as a little bit of a shock to me,” Lewis said on AFL 360.
“He is still arguably in the top five key forwards in the competition so what’s he worth?
“We are happy to pay 20-year-olds, 21-year-olds who haven’t yet proved themselves well and above what they have earnt to be paid on potential.
“He has shown it year on year to be able to command big dollars and he is still showing to me, and I think the wider football community, that he can still command top dollar.”
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Franklin has kicked 34 goals for the Swans this season, becoming the sixth man to bring up 1000 career goals amid chaotic scenes at the SCG in Round 2.
The star forward’s nine-year $10 million deal ends at the end of this season.
Lewis said the Magpies and Dockers were the clubs he viewed as the best fit for Franklin should he be forced to look elsewhere to continue playing.
“The obvious ones for me who we speak about and they’re crying out for not only a key position player, but a very good key position player, are Collingwood and Fremantle,” Lewis said.
“The teams that I would consider to be good, solid finals teams that are now looking for that edge come 2023.”
But Lewis was hopeful Franklin and the Swans could come to a resolution.
“He has been there through a period of time where they have had a lot of transitions so it has been a period where a lot of young kids have come in,” Lewis said.
“But I have been fortunate enough to be at dinner with ‘Bud’ and a few of the young kids have been there and they idolise him, they look up to him.
“I think he feels a sense of responsibility trying to educate and trying to help these kids become premiership players.
“So if he was able to hang around for another year or two years, this side has the potential to be that team and I think it would be fulfilling for, not only he, but the players that he has helped.”
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Former champion small forward Eddie Betts said Franklin remained one of the game’s most marketable players.
“He is still taking the number one defender … he puts bums on seats,” Betts said.
“With stuff outside footy, he is very marketable, he is one of the most marketable players in the history of the AFL.
“If he is still playing good football … he deserves everything that is coming his way.”
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