Greater Western Sydney No.1 draft pick Jonathon Patton has a simple message for those who think Lance Franklin won’t consider joining his AFL club next year.
“If they offer him $2 million a year, it’s realistic,” Patton says.
That type of payday isn’t without precedent at the young club.
It’s estimated code-hopper Israel Folau made somewhere between $3 million and $4 million over two years while learning the code at the Giants.
The same amount for an equally high-profile player, such as AFL superstar Franklin, wouldn’t be out of the picture.
Patton, who is out for the season with a knee injury, says his club is in need of an experienced marquee player after the departures of mature heads Luke Power and James McDonald last year.
“If there was a big marquee player to come to the club with a big presence, someone like Israel Folau I guess – but not a rugby player, it would be great for the club,” he said.
“Anyone would like Buddy Franklin in their team. So if he came to the club, I’d probably have a smile on my face.”
The Giants are struggling at the bottom of the ladder with zero wins after 10 games this season.
Meanwhile the Gold Coast Suns – who have played just one more season in the AFL – have won four of their matches.
Patton said Franklin is in the same category of superstar as Gold Coast Suns skipper Gary Ablett – who is on a five-year contract valued near $10 million.
“It would be nice to have someone like them in the club,” he said.
“We have pretty good recruiting staff. We’ll see what happens.
“But we think in four years time that all us guys will be the marquee players.”
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