Sydney chief executive Andrew Ireland says the Swans do not crave a premiership to validate Lance Franklin's controversial $10 million deal, declaring all they wanted was for the superstar forward to play good football.
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Franklin and his manager Liam Pickering approached the Swans after the 2012 season about a possible shift from Hawthorn once his 2013 campaign was done.
While many in the football world, including the AFL, thought Franklin was going to accept the riches on offer from Greater Western Sydney, his sole intention had been to link with the Swans. The eventual move, inked in a nine-year contract, sparked more friction between the AFL and the Swans and even led to Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson parting ways with Pickering, for the latter also managed Swans coach John Longmire.
The Swans – and Franklin – would lose to the Hawks in the '14 grand final, with the perception of some in the AFL industry that until they had secured a flag together, the partnership could not be rated a success.
"My view is, we didn't recruit 'Buddy' to deliver us a premiership. Clearly, it's a team. My view is, he is getting paid a lot of money but he is not getting paid exorbitant money," Ireland said.
It's understood Franklin was to pocket $1.2 million this year, a leap from $700,000 last year, with his wage peaking at $1.5 million in 2021.
"We can still put a strong midfield on the ground – clearly it would be great to win premierships. Clearly, externally people might say it but, from our point of view, he has played super footy for us. That's all you can ask. He is a great player, he is a good team player," Ireland said.
Franklin, having missed last year's finals because of mental health issues, has enjoyed an All-Australian year (80 goals), and he was brilliant against the Cats in a 37-point win on Friday night which has secured another grand-final berth.
"He plays up the ground, and can turn around and hit targets ... I thought his pressure around the ball was also good," Longmire said.
Ireland recounted the Swans' recruiting strategy where they opted to not "sell" the club to Franklin. Rather, he had to be clear in his own mind that he wanted to leave the Hawks after such a successful career there. Franklin had begun to spend more time in Sydney where his girlfriend, television presenter and model Jesinta Campbell, lived. They are now engaged.
"The important things for us, we knew he was starting to come to Sydney regularly to see his girl. I spoke to Liam and he said: 'I think he is pretty serious and I think he will will want to [leave]'," Ireland said.
"When someone like him [Franklin] says: 'I want to come to your club', I think you would be hard pressed not to say [let's look into it] ...
"I must admit, when he came up and he met with John and I, we have done this a couple of times – we didn't try and sell the club. We said: 'It's a big call to leave a club like Hawthorn. We will try and do it, if you want to do it, but we'll leave you alone and it's up to you if you really want to ... it will be a big issue if you do', and he was keen to do it."
Heading into their third grand final in five years, the Swans are fighting to retain hardnut midfielder Tom Mitchell.
Fairfax Media understands Mitchell has been offered a five-year deal by the Swans but the issue remains over finances, with Hawthorn prepared to offer more. Industry figures say he is worth between $500,000 and $550,000 a season. The Swans, who will no longer have the cost of living allowance to work with next year, are also hamstrung by an official salary-cap figure being yet to be set for next season, as discussions over a new collective bargaining agreement between the AFL and AFL Coaches Association limp along.
Mitchell was superb against the Cats on Friday night, collecting 27 disposals, including 19 contested and four clearances. His ability to spin out of trouble and dodge four Hawks in the first term and handball to Luke Parker, who goaled, was one of the highlights of the 37-point win.
Carlton, one of three clubs where his father Barry played, has also expressed interest in Mitchell, for he would be a major weapon alongside Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Patrick Cripps.
