Lance Franklin to become a Swan

[Captain]

Buddy purportedly has some substance issues.

Mate I think you would blush at the number of players who 'have similar problems'.

[dimelb]

I am sure the defenders are loving it. Great strategy by the Swans, recruit all the best key forwards so we don't have to play on them!

[Matt80]

People seemed to be worried about Buddy lifestyle, but I want to put some reality on the table!

I once saw a legendary Swans player, one Sunday night, a decade ago, dancing behind a DJ booth, downing shots, and smoking cigarettes. This was after the Swans had implemented their famous 'Bloods Culture'.

Don't automatically think that current Swans players don't go out and go hard. Why should be begrudge Buddy a good time?

[Zlatorog]

People seemed to be worried about Buddy lifestyle, but I want to put some reality on the table!

I once saw a legendary Swans player, one Sunday night, a decade ago, dancing behind a DJ booth, downing shots, and smoking cigarettes. This was after the Swans had implemented their famous 'Bloods Culture'.

Don't automatically think that current Swans players don't go out and go hard. Why should be begrudge Buddy a good time?

Because media in Sydney is not reporting it. The media in Sydney is more following rugby players than AFL ones. All this reports about Buddy are from Melbourne media, which, understandably, could be "a bit" sensationalized.

[Matt80]

One thing is certain, Buddy is the biggest football star to come to Sydney since Dwight York played for Sydney FC in 2005.

Dwight York played hard on the field, and was superb of the field in Potts Point!

I expect Buddy to give the Swans on field power, but also off field cudos. Danny Wielder will have Buddy in his pages and will bring more supporters to the Swans!

I don't want Buddy here to be a monk!

[jono2707]

Because media in Sydney is not reporting it. The media in Sydney is more following rugby players than AFL ones.

They follow rugby league players even more than rugby players.

[Xie Shan]

People seemed to be worried about Buddy lifestyle, but I want to put some reality on the table!

I once saw a legendary Swans player, one Sunday night, a decade ago, dancing behind a DJ booth, downing shots, and smoking cigarettes. This was after the Swans had implemented their famous 'Bloods Culture'.

Don't automatically think that current Swans players don't go out and go hard. Why should be begrudge Buddy a good time?

Of course. He's welcome to have a good time as long as he performs on the field, especially given the massive investment we are making. I think he'll repay us though, the move might actually be good for his footy.

[SwansBloke]

Apologies if anyone else has posted this: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1226731160339

"But don't blame Sydney or Lance Franklin. Blame the AFL.

The league's best intentions to help shore up their 30-year investment in the Sydney Swans, by virtue of a cost of living allowance, has come back to haunt them.

It is a PR nightmare.

The other clubs are furious and the fans are perplexed."

[Ludwig]

Free agency is really jacking up the price tag on players. In a few years time Buddy's contract will be looking a bargain. We'll all be wondering how he came so cheap.

One of the big challenges facing the AFL now will be the pressure of raising the salary cap plus ensuring the poorer clubs have enough money to pay close to 100% of their cap.

[royboy42]

Pickering interesting on trade radio. Says contract is heavily back loaded and that Franklin is getting less in the first few years than he was getting at Hawthorn.Also that he hopes to play for the length of the contract, because if he retires year 7 (say) his contract ceases at that time. We don't have to pay unless he plays..I assume insurance against injury is a given for the Swans.

[SwansBloke]

You wonder if they'll bring in maximum contracts for players a la the NBA

[Triple B]

Also that he hopes to play for the length of the contract, because if he retires year 7 (say) his contract ceases at that time. We don't have to pay unless he plays..I assume insurance against injury is a given for the Swans.

We won't have to physically pay, but I'm sure the money will still come under the salary cap....

[Primmy]

This is a bit of erudite reasoning from Leo Barry.

Skilton's shock was matched by that of 2005 premiership star Leo Barry, but less so his concern, with the former All Australian defender suggesting Franklin was attracted to the Swans because of their culture, not in spite of it, and that having players of Franklin's calibre seeking to join the Swans was an indication of how highly the club was regarded. Barry also dismissed the complaints of clubs, particularly Melbourne sides, over the rumoured financial aspects of the deal.

''They can squeal all they want. If a player wants to go to another club and they can't manage their salary cap as well as the Swans, that's their problem,'' Barry said. ''It's a pretty big coup, a bit of a surprise. But I'm sure it wasn't a decision that was taken lightly and I'm sure there were quite a few players involved in the decision. But, just reflecting on it, when a player wants to come to Sydney, it's a real feather in Sydney's cap. Players want to relocate to play for the Swans, whereas only 10 or 15 years ago we were losing players who wanted to go home. The culture and what we've been able to develop is one reason why someone like Franklin would want to play for the Swans, or play for less money than what he was offered at GWS.''

Barry acknowledged concerns about how Franklin would fit in, but said similar questions were raised about Kurt Tippett. ''And before that, people were saying the same things about Hally [Barry Hall],'' he said. ''But Hally proved himself at the Swans.''

Barry said that when he was playing, there were numerous players the club considered recruiting, but if the leadership group ''didn't think they were suited, we didn't chase them''.

''The club's obviously confident on Franklin,'' he said. ''This one was obviously tight-lipped, but I'm sure the leadership group would have been consulted at some stage. I think the key point is that he wanted to come here.''

Read more: Skilton fears Franklin a risk to Swans

Most of the points are well worth considering, especially the fact that Buddy asked to come to Sydney, which is a feather in our cap (where can I get a redandwhite feather I wonder??) no matter how you look at it.

As for Bobby's concerns. He is not management, he is a legend of the club and with that comes gravitas and respect; but he is not on the Board, and he is not a current player by some 40 or 50 years duration. This must be taken in its context. Next year he will probably be hugging Buddy around the waist

Its all about taking some time and seeing what happens next. But I like the way Leo's thought processes unfold.

Another rather delicate point I would like to make. A large number of the squealers and squawkers are not exactly finance or footy Experts, including the journalists and other club leaders. They are the normal mix of the world in general. Not exactly experts in this field. I'd rather run with our list managers. You know, the mob who got us Plugger, Roosy, Stuey Maxfield, Barry Hall, Craig Bolton, Marty Mattner, Rhyce Shaw, Ted, Mummy, Mike, AND Morto! (don't bother including Donnuts, he doesn't count)

[Triple B]

As for Bobby's concerns. He is not management, he is a legend of the club and with that comes gravitas and respect; but he is not on the Board, and he is not a current player by some 40 or 50 years duration. This must be taken in its context. Next year he will probably be hugging Buddy around the waist

I didn't see anything in Skilt's comments that were different from 90% of posters here and on other forums and social media. Most are rapt that we have landed Buddy, but I reckon there's a hell of a lot of us who have a lingering worry that if things go pear shaped it will knock us about big time which may take some time to recover...

[Matt80]

Free agency is really jacking up the price tag on players. In a few years time Buddy's contract will be looking a bargain. We'll all be wondering how he came so cheap.

One of the big challenges facing the AFL now will be the pressure of raising the salary cap plus ensuring the poorer clubs have enough money to pay close to 100% of their cap.

Great point Ludwig! Free agency in my opinion will have a big impact on your mid tier, hardworking players over 25 years of age (Craig Birds, Ben McGlynn). Teams of the future will be made up of 4 - 6 superstar free agency players who command most of the salary cap! The rest of the team will comprise young draft picks who are inexpensive! The players to be pushed out a mid tier players on middle money! The Swans are offloading mid tier players like Mumford and White, with other mid ties players such as Grundy, Bird and Reid being talked about as potential trade options.

A lot of other teams will start clearing salary cap space to land the big fishes and playing them alongside cheaper draft picks.

The middle tier player of 26 years years of age will struggle in this new World of free agency!