Sydney boss Andrew Ireland says the Swans have no regrets over the Lance Franklin mega deal
SINCE joining the Sydney Swans, Lance Franklin has produced amazing football. But the genius of his nine-year mega deal isn’t limited to just wins, losses and goals.
Sydney
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SYDNEY boss Andrew Ireland says “Buddy” Franklin will still be a dominant force when he hits the final year of his nine-season, $10 million deal.
Franklin on Friday night plays his 250th AFL game but will be 35 by the time he signs off on one of the longest deals in footy history.
The league was so furious with the deal they inserted special conditions to ensure every cent of the $10 million went into the Swans cap.
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But Ireland says Franklin’s stunning form and sports science advances have him brimming with confidence about Franklin’s durability.
Franklin’s signing and the team’s recent on-field success has seen skyrocketing corporate, membership and merchandise figures since 2013.
And while Franklin is due a huge $7.6 million of his deal this year and beyond, the Swans have no regrets about the audacious free-agency signing.
“I was involved with the Alastair Lynch (10-year) deal and it has always been my view that it will be judged more at the end than it can be on the way through,’’ Ireland told the Herald Sun.
“But up to now it’s been really good. The thing I have always said and Lance said it this week is that he loves playing footy.
“I think barring injury he is every chance to still be playing well for the whole of that contract. We have never thought he couldn’t get there.”
Sydney’s games record was once held by John Rantall (260 games) but Ireland says that record’s repeated eclipsing bodes well for Franklin.
“Since then we have had Adam Goodes play 372 games, Jude Bolton and Michael O’Loughlin play 300 and with any luck Jarrad McVeigh (287) will get to 300.
“The competition manages the players better and I think we will see players playing even longer.
“We are seeing more individually tailored programs so all players are benefiting from that. There is the opportunity to play for longer.”
Sydney is adamant it cannot quantify “The Buddy Effect” in its key off-field metrics given its focus on the entire team over individuals.
But as Franklin has arrived in town there is no doubt he has helped the Swans’ traction in the competitive Sydney sporting market.
The Swans have 10 prime time Friday and Thursday clashes, with the Seven network telling them Buddy makes them ratings gold.
And while they are yet to win a premiership in Franklin’s time at the club he has kicked five goals in a pair of Grand Finals.
“We have been in three Grand Finals since 2012 and any growth is around the team,’’ Ireland said.
“But there is no doubting the Sydney market have always loved the big-name full forward.
“They loved Tony Lockett and Hally (Barry Hall) and now Lance. No doubt Lance is one of the most exciting players in the competition.
“He has had an impact but we have always said it’s about team performance.”
If the Swans find their way onto the front and back pages of Sydney’s newspapers it is invariably Buddy-related.
But after the issues of his first season when he crashed cars and was a lightning rod for controversy, the Swans and their star have found a comfortable arrangement.
“From the club’s point of view we deliberately haven’t tried to overplay the marketing side of it,’’ Ireland said.
“We have got some rights as part of his contract but the best marketing for us is him playing out there on the ground.”
BIG WINNERS
- Sydney pre- and post-Buddy (Franklin arrived for the 2014 season)
Corporate revenue/sponsorships
Was already the highest in the competition but is 26 per cent up entering 2017
Membership
36,368 in 2013
56,523 this year and likely to break 60,000 this year
Junior membership
11,519 in 2013
19,633 this year, up 70 per cent in four years
Average home crowds
28,297 in 2013
33,425 last year, up 18 per cent
TV exposure
Just four Thursday and Friday night games in 2013
10 Thursday and Friday night games this season
Originally published as Sydney boss Andrew Ireland says the Swans have no regrets over the Lance Franklin mega deal
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