Buddy Franklin’s wife, Jesinta, has revealed that the superstar has many options in front of him after a bomb report that he is not satisfied with the Sydney Swans’ contract offer.
Franklin joined the Hawthorn Swans in 2014 with a $ 10 million nine-year deal, but a drastically reduced contract causes the 35-year-old to knock on the door.
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Although Franklin has been prone to injury in recent years, scenes from fans flooding the SCG when he scored his 1000th goal earlier this year showed that he is still one of the most important cards in the league. sport.
A Herald Sun report stated that Franklin was being “lowered” to $ 500,000 a season, while Franklin is asking for 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 has not ruled out joining a third club in the AFL.
Speaking to Channel 7’s The morning show On Thursday, Jesinta, who is becoming a player agent, said the reports were rumors and speculation, but did not deny the details.
“There’s always rumors and speculation around Bud, and I think when he gets to the end of such an amazing contract, that would always happen,” he said.
“But I think they are just that; they are rumors and they are speculations.
“We are very happy in Sydney at the moment, and we have our lives ready here, so we just have to see what happens.
“I still feel like he has a lot to give, and he still feels like he has a big foot (which he has left), and he feels really good.
“He keeps saying, ‘I feel like I’m 21.’ Which is great. And the statistics show that too.”
Jesinta also suggested, “We have options,” that he did nothing to stifle the rumors.
She later told the Daily Telegraph that she and Buddy were planning to travel once she retired.
“When he retires, whenever he is, we would like to go abroad for six months and live life without work commitments and without the stress and worries of living life in the spotlight,” Jesinta said. .
“It will be very nice for us to have a great break and spend quality time with the kids and not have to worry about anything.”
Jesinta Franklin spilled Buddy’s rumors. Photo: Canal 7 Source: Canal 7
Three-time Premier Lions defender Chris Johnson told Seven, “I think it’s still worth $ 800,000; I’d still pay 800 for insurance. Safe.”
However, on the other side of the coin, former Brownlow winner Gerard Healy told Sportsday that he said, “I don’t think $ 500,000 for Lance Franklin for next year is reasonable.”
The most disappointing thing for me is that it’s being played in public, ”Healy told Sportsday.
“It’s not uplifting, I guess it comes from its management, we don’t have to take on anything, but it certainly hasn’t come from the Sydney Swans.
“Sometimes these things come from third parties.
“Swans don’t talk about these things and there’s no advantage to swans. Where’s the positive?”
AFL great Kane Cornes and Dermott Brereton also believe Franklin is worth about $ 500,000.
Swans boss Tom Harley spoke to SEN and said the club was not worried that Franklin had not yet signed and that the club was confident Franklin would finish his career in black and white.
“Absolutely, there’s no doubt about it,” Harley told SEN.
“We believe Lance has been an amazing contributor to the club and the code and has become the iconic Sydney and part of the Sydney Swans family, so this is absolutely our intention.”
What options does Buddy have?
There is a lot on the table for Buddy. Phil HillyardFont Photo: News Corp Australia
There is no doubt that Franklin is one of the big cards in the AFL despite being at the end of his career.
Franklin has 1,029 goals in his career, two behind Gary Ablett Sr., fifth on the all-time list.
But in the AFL 360 Wednesday night, Mark Robinson suggested Franklin could retire.
“It’s very possible that Lance Franklin will only have six football games left in his AFL career,” he said.
“Since I’m sitting here right now, I’d think the option is for him to retire.”
Franklin’s options include agreeing with Sydney, retiring or looking for a new club.
That meant the teams were asked if they wanted Franklin at their clubs, with all of them playing the diplomatic route.
Sam Mitchell of Hawthorn laughed.
“I read a little bit of this this morning, it’s a great fairy tale concept, but where our list is and what we’re trying to achieve, I don’t see it, but who knows,” she said.
Craing McRae of Collingwood said, “If he wants to come here, we’ll have him.”
Damian Hardwick of Richmond commented, “We’ll only control what we can control, but we’re happy with our luck right now.”
Gold Coast Stuart Dew said: “To be honest, I don’t see him leaving Sydney. I’m sure they’ll beat him because he’s Lance Franklin.”
Simon Goodwin of Melbourne seemed resigned to be missed if he went on the market.
“As a football fan I would love to have him, he’s my favorite player of all time,” Goodwin said.
“But we haven’t even thought about it and we won’t talk about players from other clubs.
“But from the perspective of a football purist, I love Buddy Franklin and what he gives to our game.
“We need him in our game and I’d love to see him keep playing.”
Buddy is a huge star. Phil HillyardFont Photo: supplied
Meanwhile, former Hawks teammate, winner of Prime Minister Jordan Lewis, suggested the Dockers should play the Swans star.
“It surprised me a little bit,” he told the AFL 360.
“We are happy to pay 20-year-olds, 21-year-olds who have not yet proven to be well and above what they have earned to be potentially paid.
“He has shown year after year that he is capable of making big money, and he is still proving to me, and I think, to the football community at large, that he can still make money.
“The obvious ones for me that we’re talking about and that require not just a key player, but a very good key player, are Collingwood and Fremantle.”
On Thursday, Lewis said he could not see Franklin leaving the Swans.
Former Saints senior Nick Riewoldt was more categorical.
“There’s no way I’m not in Sydney next year, by any means,” he said.
“These things only come out if someone wants them to come out. It’s a contract negotiation tool we’ve seen 1000 times before, from someone at Buddy’s camp that you would assume.”