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.”
Pat
Guest
Your excused shmick - I know it can be hard living in the hostage states ....
Shmick
Guest
Hahah, pardon my Melbourne-centric ignorance.
Pat
Guest
Of course shmick. - NSW and qld are cultured, egalitarian and multi sports following - the rest are captive states ruled by the great god AFL - simple really.
Shmick
Guest
Amazing. So QLD & NSW is mainstream Australia, but VIC, SA, WA & TAS isn't? I think I understand now...
davo willmot
Guest
who cares your just dirty cause mainstream Australia couldnt care less about aussie rules
johno
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And yet the NRL is going to try again to put a team in Perth. I mean the Force has been such a resounding success with it's 1 locally produced player. This time in a time honoured league administration tradition they will copy the AFL and name the team as "West Coast" Pirates. WA has a huge tradition of piracy - Alan Bond, Brian Burke - the teams uniform should be grey pin stripes. Maybe they can find the speakers and sound system that the Reds used to have to imitate crowd noise when they played at the WACA back in the day!
davo willmot
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sleeveless shirt, here comes the enemy
clipper
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Tatoos - check Attitude - check Silly haircut - check Ability for controversy - check Could fit in quite well out there!
davo willmot
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no I dont understand western sydney just live in it
Allan
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So by your admission you don't really understand Western Sydney ?
davo willmot
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in 1000 years the district will still have the same culture nobody will care
Stavros
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That will change once Buddy arrives. The people there obviously need to be told what is good for them.
davo willmot
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All that money for 1 player in a district that cant stand aussie rules
Brendan
Guest
Arguably Ablett and Franklin are the two best players in the game . The Suns not making the finals has robbed footy supporters of seeing Ablett in the finals if Buddy goes to the Giants more than likely we wont see him in September either.