This year’s big news topic has already been decided. Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin has given the AFL media their long term project by announcing he will not be negotiating his contract until the end of the year.
Franklin is one of the biggest names in the comp, and arguably this contract saga will be bigger news than the Travis Cloke and Brendon Goddard contract talks combined, and maybe even eclipse Gary Ablett’s.
His appeal as a player, ambassador for his club and code, and sheer marketability as an athlete and person (he is a pretty good looking bloke let’s not forget) might not make him the number one player in the game, but certainly the number one commodity.
And the very thought of him leaving his premiership winning club, Hawthorn, who are once again in the box seat for the grand prize is hard to get one’s head around.
It’s a great story for the media. And the bloke is going to cop it all year.
In a clear sign of things to come, his recent interview, which was supposed to concern his captaining the Indigenous All-Stars Team against Richmond, quickly turned to contract talk.
Buddy was emphatic about his want to stay at his current club, stating, “I want to stay at Hawthorn… I’ve got no intention to leave the football club…it’s my decision.”
Pretty clear, right? Well according to AFL.com’s Mark Macgugan, it’s clear as mud.
Macgugan stated that we didn’t get “the answer as to WHY he put the contract talks on hold… he was a bit vague on that… all we can speculate is that it’s about money.”
Talk about reading too far between the lines.
The discussion, which can be viewed on the AFL’s website, then moved to the clubs who are in the box seat to take the star, including Fremantle and Adelaide, and the obvious fact that this story will be the big one of the year.
The clearest indication as to why the star made this choice came straight form the horse’s mouth.
“Internally it won’t be spoken about, we just look forward to playing footy and hopefully winning a premiership,” stated Franklin. That is a pretty legitimate reason.
In a year where the Hawks stand the best chance of winning the flag, following a year where they missed out only on the day, all players would know how important getting their own game right is, especially the man who, despite the ever increasingly talented support staff around him, will be required to kick the odd double figure bag of goals.
It’s never been more important for Franklin to have his body, form and mind right.
What we all remember about contract negotiations – thanks to the recent string of very public and very drawn out sagas from Gary Ablett Jr to Cloke to Goddard to Kurt Tippett – is the scuttlebutt, innuendo and seemingly inevitable exodus of the player in question.
Lines like “I don’t need the distraction”, “Obviously I love playing footy here”, and, everyone’s favourite, “I haven’t thought about it, I’m just taking things one week at a time,” are now so convincing to the contrary that we seem to live in a world where every player is viewed as a liar.
What we forget very quickly is that a contract negotiation can be incredibley draining and distracting. Anyone who has actually gone through the experience will know this.
You’re basically balancing your needs and desires with that of another party, while, in the case of star footballers, being bombarded daily by third parties.
We all seem to think the negotiating room is purely for the player’s manager and the man in the top hat holding a bag of money. Not true – of course the player is involved, this is their livelihood, passion, hobby and for many the reason they get up every day.
The difference between getting your contract right or not might mean a serious drop in pay, or even a relocation interstate, uprooting yourself and family and starting over.
But as I said, we all seem to be caught up with the memory of Ablett and Goddard, who delayed then walked out. We forget the Travis Clokes of the world, the Patrick Dangerfields and Taylor Walkers, Travis Boaks and Matthew Pavlichs.
Loyalty does still exist in football, despite the exceptions, and wanting to focus on your footy when the prize at stake is a premiership is a legitimate reason.
So let’s try and leave Buddy alone, please – there are bigger issues afoot, and the guy just needs to play footy.
Jay Jay
Guest
It wouldn't hurt if he, his manager and the club all knew he had every intention of re-signing but this was just a ploy to distract a few other teams who would spend a lot of time and effort trying to lure Buddy away from the Hawks. Could the Hawks be crafty enough to be playing mind games with the likes of Carlton, Freo, West Coast and whoever else who would then have to start looking at restructuring their team and or/finances to get the great man on board? Maybe I wouldn't want to be a player out of contract this year if my chances of being re-signed hinge on whether or not my team is trying to obtain the services of Buddy. He is obviously a marquee player and I would imagine every team would would look at their list and player salaries and just wonder if it were possible to lure the big fella away from the Hawks. Be funny if he's already re-signed! Just some food for thought.
AndyMack
Guest
Just enough tattoo's though....
Mango Jack
Guest
It works both ways. It may be a distraction for the club, to the detriment of their form, but on the other hand, he has put pressure on himself now to deliver, otherwise he may find himself in a worse bargaining position. As a Hawk fan, I'd prefer him to have signed up, but not too worried at this stage. Intersting that he and Clarkson share the same manager.
Mango Jack
Guest
He's got too many teeth, andy.
Jack
Guest
I agree, leave him alone. Could be any number of things for him to consider and we are all just speculating. I don't think it's only about money
The Curious Case of Benjamin Stratton
Guest
Contract negotiations and the press go hand in hand. You won't stop it, and writing about the very topic perpetuates the speculation no?
Australian Rules
Guest
Buddy missed 6 games in 2012...and they were arguably the best games that the Hawks played as a team. The Hawks' structure never looked better. Sure, they lost 4.5 from Bud...but they gained 3 goals each from Gunston, Breust, Hodge, Lewis, Roughie et al. He's a superstar, but the sun will rise in Waverley if Buddy looks to go elsewhere.
Brian
Guest
As a Hawks supporter whilst annoying I actually don't think its intolerable. Obviously I love Buddy but I think he is making a mistake here. He is the competitions leading forward, at season's end at best he will still be that, however should he get injured or have a poor year he is shooting himself in the foot. He's a great athlete but not exactly Mr reliable in front of goals and I have often feared that therefore he will peak early in his career. As far as homesick goes he is from outback WA which is about as close to Fremantle as Melbourne is - and his family is currently in Melbourne. So from the club's point of view the issue is its management but provided that is handled sensibly from a contract renewal point of view I can't see how we would command more at season's end than now.
Redb
Roar Guru
Who do they let go? Mitchell, Hodge? I dont think so.
Paul
Guest
If Cloke is the parallel we're drawing, Hawks fans are in for a frustrating year.
Lroy
Guest
If the Hawks offer him 2 million a year, he will sign tomorrow.
Matt F
Roar Guru
He could certainly stay. Cloke stayed so there is no real evidence that he's actually leaving. However even if he does stay (which I think he will) it will create a season long distraction just like Ablett and Cloke did which can't help Hawthorn's flag chances
BigAl
Guest
Like him as a personality, but his (and players of his type) on field value is way, way overrated
damo
Guest
Actually a Crows fan mate.
Andyroo
Guest
Interesting that Cloke resigned at the end of the day. Following league and soccer it's very rare that people let their contract wind down and end up staying. If you really want to stay then why wait and risk getting a bad injury and being left with near nothing. I guess the fact he won't be a completely free agent means that there is more in play than in other codes. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Redb
Roar Guru
Leave Buddy alone? Buddy has put himself out there by deferring talks with Hawthorn this is his own doing and the media storm that will go with it. It will be Ablett and Geelong and bigger than Cloke with Collingwood, this will cause disruption to Hawthorn's season as fellow team-mates indirectly question his loyalty to the club. Unlike Cloke, Buddy has a go home factor at play.
SpearTackle
Roar Rookie
Sounds like you're a Hawthorn fan. These antics will derail Hawthorn's season and he'll probably only make an extra $100,000 per year above Hawthorn's intended offer. For $500,000 (assuming he'll get a 5 year deal), a premiership is worth so much more. If he wanted a flag, he'd just sign asap.
Brandon Marlow
Roar Pro
All Franklin and his management are doing by putting it out that they aren't talking until the end of the season is getting Buddy's price at Hawthorn to go up and up. And can you blame him? Cloke did the exact same thing last year and now he gets paid way more than he's worth.
AndyMack
Guest
Would look great in black and white stripes.....