The chances are the tune is not even on Buddy Franklin’s iDevice, but no doubt, buzzing around in his head, are the words of The Clash’s 1980s hit, Should I Stay or Should I Go?
For what it’s worth, I would love to see him ‘go’ instead of ‘stay’, to give himself another huge challenge, to spread the super-stardom around, in a move which would not only benefit him, but also greatly do wonders for the growth of the game.
Having said all that, I couldn’t begrudge him if he chose to ‘stay’ either.
The stay or go conundrum is should the game’s highest profile player stay at Hawthorn, continue to play finals, continue to chase premierships, continue to start the pre-season with realistic hopes of playing on the final day of AFL season, continue to consistently sing the team song after a win?
Or should Buddy go? Should he take advantage of what will be a once in a lifetime multi-million dollar payday, should he leave Melbourne and head to Greater Western Sydney, should he do what Gary Ablett jnr did and get in on the ground floor of what could be an exciting journey?
Franklin’s decision earlier this year to put contract talks with Hawthorn on hold until the end of the season, mirrors what happened with Ablett jnr in 2010, when he too put contract negotiations with Geelong on hold.
All season there was talk about his future before Ablett announced he was heading to the Gold Coast. The Giants would be hoping for a similar outcome with Buddy.
While GWS have made it their policy since they were granted a licence not to talk about specific players they were chasing and hoping to sign, nor to comment on speculation and rumours, and while they have two very handy forward prospects in Jeremy Cameron and Jon Patton, there is no doubt GWS would be salivating over the prospect of getting Franklin.
They have the space in their cap, and they will definitely be having a crack at snaring him.
While it was suggested the AFL may even help in getting Buddy to Blacktown, chief executive Andrew Demetriou made it clear that won’t be the case, and even made a point of contacting Hawthorn to clarify it.
It was thought a Giants’ contract could be boosted by the AFL the same way they helped out with Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt, through payment as ambassadors in the fledgling AFL states. But no, that won’t happen.
While Hawks fans – and probably most fans of all other clubs – won’t like to hear it, if the AFL really do want GWS to thrive in Western Sydney, they should do anything they can to help make Buddy a Giant.
Franklin is just what the game in Western Sydney needs. He could be for the Giants what Tony Lockett was for the Swans and the game in Sydney, back in the mid-1990s. A larger than life, legitimate superstar.
Not a former rugby league player whose signing was looked upon by most as a gimmick, a sideshow.
He is someone the kids can relate to, and aspire to be like. Someone the media will want to write about and talk to. Someone who will put bums on seats. Someone the non-AFL people of Sydney, will still be interested in.
And of course, someone who will significantly help out the team on the park.
We know they have the cream of the young talent pool, and while many of those kids will undoubtedly be stars, no offence, but right now nobody knows Lachie Whitfield, or Lachlan Plowman or Will Hoskin- Elliott.
Or really even Tom Scully.
It’s a huge call for Buddy to make, but it would be tempting, especially if the talk of a six-year, $9 million deal, or the possibility of up to $2 million a year over a shorter term, are close to the mark.
Maybe he should give Gaz a call for some advice?
We know it’s rumbling around in his head, so let’s try and help Buddy and list some of those pros and cons – actually just the pros, of firstly staying a Hawk, and secondly of becoming a Giant.
Loyalty
Such a big thing in sport, but most think with the dollars involved these days, loyalty is a thing of the past. It would speak volumes for the man if he showed loyalty and shunned more money to stay a Hawk.
Home
Melbourne has been home for almost a decade now. Melbourne is where the heart of footy beats. You want to live and breathe footy, Melbourne is where you should be.
Finals
The Hawks are favourites this year, and whether they win the flag or not in 2013, they will probably be the favourites or thereabouts, next year and possibly the year after. Staying represents a chance for more premiership success and isn’t that what every player plays for?
He’ll be 27 when next season starts, so Buddy’s in the second half of his career. There won’t be too many more chances to win more flags. At Hawthorn he’ll have that chance. At GWS he probably won’t, at least not right now.
So, what about the pros of moving north?
Well the bucks for starters, and plenty of them. But it’s not about being a mercenary.
There is that sense of satisfaction – like Ablett jnr – of coming in at the start of something, and helping to build a franchise you, your teammates, and a city, can be proud of.
He will also be able to help nurture his young teammates, as a leader of the club.
While he’s unlikely to ever have any problems off the field after his playing days are over, Sydney is the corporate capital of the country, and those corporates will love Buddy.
And there is the big factor which every high profile player ever to come to the Swans has warmly embraced … the anonymity. Sure Buddy will get noticed walking around town, a curious stare, maybe the point of a finger, but nowhere near what happens in Melbourne.
He won’t be mugged by fans or pestered for photos or autographs, and will be able to have the nearest thing to a normal private life.
But, it’s not an easy decision to make. What would you do? I guess it’s hard for us mere mortals to not just instantly jump at the mega-dollars on offer.
Personally I think he’ll stay. But I would love to see him go.
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