Hawthorn should take the hard line and offer Lance Franklin only what it can afford when they come together to negotiate his contract at the end of the season. If the Hawks deal doesn’t satisfy Buddy, they should let him walk.
This isn’t a regular opinion piece. It’s the view of a passionate Hawthorn member and supporter.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the sustained success, dominating performances and those two running goals down the wing against Essendon, but looking at it logically, a move makes sense for both parties.
Hawthorn has proven itself capable of winning (and winning well) without Franklin in the side. Since 2008 Alistair Clarkson has been tinkering with the formula and has slowly lessened the reliance on Buddy in the forward line.
This year the game plan has gone so far away from Franklin as the centerpiece, Buddy was accused of poor form, despite clearly filling the role Clarkson desired of him.
Given these changes, the reportedly more than $5 million offer, over five years, is far too exorbitant.
The most concerning aspect of these reports is the five years. The last Hawk key forward to sign a five year deal was Nick Holland.
While Franklin is clearly a superior player to Holland, he is an example of the fluctuations a player’s worth can take over five years, through injury and poor form.
I’ve been a staunch defender of Franklin’s off-field behaviour, but it’s impossible to deny it may also present a risk.
He has been forever linked to drama and problems away from the security of the club and, while much of it can be put down to rumour and innuendo, he always seems one misdemeanor away from disaster.
Is all that money worth the risk?
If Franklin moved on, the extra salary cap room created could set the club up for sustained success.
Hawthorn should chase Dale Thomas. Hard. They can use a slab of the Buddy cash to lure him from the Magpies. He is exactly the sort of goal-kicking, hard and fast running midfielder Hawthorn crave.
They have Isaac Smith filling that role very well this year, but, with no disrespect to Smith, Thomas is a step up in class from him.
With the leftover cash (and there will still be plenty) the Hawks should chase a young up-and-coming midfielder from one of the expansion sides. As those sides develop and become finals contenders, some quality is inevitably going to be squeezed out. Think Josh Caddy to Geelong.
Top of the wish list are Taylor Adams and Trent McKenzie.
The compensation draft selection(s) received from Franklin leaving and/or a trade with GWS become a bonus on top of these pick ups and further rejuvenate the playing list.
Letting Franklin leave will quickly transform in to a positive if handled correctly and used as the pivotal move in setting up the team’s on-field future.
These arguments will become even stronger if the Hawks can snare an 11th premiership this September.
If you had told any Hawthorn supporter in 2004 that their recruits, Franklin and his mates Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis, would help take the team to football’s summit twice over their careers, we all would have taken that.
PItzy
Guest
Life long Hawks supporter. But if you look at games with and without Franklin, and don't include GC and GWS, we are still kicking more goals a game without him. Franklin is awesome and I hope he stays, but what he adds to the club for what the hawks are spending, I'm not sure if it is worth it. I'm not sure if Thomas is the first choice either. Can be an amazing player, but has injury trouble and the Hawks have some great young midfielders. Think Savage, Hill, Poppy, Simpkin, Anderson, Duryea. Not to mention that guys like Lewis and Smith who have more than a year or two left, probably four or five years. There is some talk about Tom Bellchambers coming to the hawks. I think that would be a better option if Buddy left. Ruck help for Bailey, and would basically be a more athletic younger version of Hale, who is probably playing the best football of his life right now, but only has a couple of years left to play. What do people think of the Billy Longer from Brisbane possibility? We do have Luke Lowden and Sam Grimley as ruck options too. Also, what about, MAYBE, Harry O to the back line??? Anyway. How good was Hodge and Sewell on Friday night??? Always been a huge Sewell fan, love your work!!!
Cat
Roar Guru
Well recent interview Ablett said one of the things he most likes about the Suns and why he wants to re-sign there for more years is because there is little to no AFL media to bother him all the time. I have no idea if Buddy cares about that or is bothered by the Media, but it is a consideration.
hawker
Guest
Well without knowing either ablett or franklin personally its hard to know how much if at all the media attention bothers them. Buddy has high profile rugby mates in sydney I can't imagine he'll slip into the background living there.
Cat
Roar Guru
You forgot what may be the most important thing of all, Franklin, like Ablett before him, may enjoy getting out of the Melbourne media fishbowl and going more quietly about his business. The extra money is also nothing to sneeze at.
hawker
Guest
Unfortunately a few wins without Buddy against inferior opposition has clouded some supporters judgement about his worth to the team. A grade key position forwards are the hardest piece of the puzzle for clubs to get. Clubs can go a decade without a star goalkicker. Thats why they get the big coin. Roughead has had a fantastic season but his big game/ finals record pales in comparison to buddy's. I wouldn't be so devastated if he left hawthorn and it was obvious hawthorn were drifting down the ladder and starting a rebuild. Apart from the extra money I can't see whats it for him to go to GWS where there is no chance of playing finals for at least 3 years, playing in front of miniscule crowds, where they already have the best young KPF in the game and potientially the second best when patton comes back from his injury.
hawker
Guest
he won 2 coleman medals when carlton were a significantly worse team than they are now. Forget about the off field stuff this guy was a star.
Penster
Guest
What ^ said.
Penster
Guest
Quite Franklin my dear, I don't give a damn.
Gayle
Guest
I never thought I would say it but Gene Anderson-Conklin I agree with you whole heartedly. I think that the name is somewhat bigger than the talent. The money is far more important to some of the top players.. No such thing as loyalty to the club nowdays.. Best if he kicks off to GWS... ASAP...
Mango Jack
Guest
As a Sydney based Hawks fan, I don't mind. As you say, they have proven they can win without him (and hopefully will again on Friday), and it means that a struggling club get a genuine superstar to lift their flagging profile and hopefully create on-field success. I might even go to a few Giants games just to watch him again.
Cat
Roar Guru
Daisy had one purple patch in his career and all of a sudden he became elite? Prior to that he was an overpaid under performer who got TV ads long before he ever did anything on the field to earn them. Now he has a bum ankle that so far has cost him an entire year. He is certain to be over paid by whomever signs him.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Carlton had to let Fevola go for a reason, and that was due to his antics at the 2009 Brownlow Medal which was the final straw. Yes, Fev was a decorated player who won two Coleman Medals at Carlton but it was his off-field behaviour which made him famous. In my point of view, his departure from Carlton helped the club on the discipline front and I feel that they are now a much better team without him.
Sean Rogasch
Roar Rookie
It would a wonderful result for GWS. Both on the field and off. Can't agree that losing Fevola didn't hurt Carlton. The Blues were crying out for a key forward with half his ability for a couple of years after his departure. Having said that I highly doubt they regret letting him go.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Buddy leaving Hawthorn won't hurt the club in the long term - they still have the second-best forward in the competition in Jarryd Roughead. Such that the departures of Brendan Fevola and Barry Hall from Carlton and Sydney respectively didn't hurt those clubs. In fact, Sydney went on to win the premiership without having a specialist full-forward. But by leaving the Hawks and joining (presumably) GWS then he could turn the club into a much better force than the one that could only win one game all year. They do have a good, full-forward in Jeremy Cameron, who finished in the top five in the Coleman Medal race. Buddy and Jezza could then form the most dangerous forward line in the AFL. But who knows what could happen?
Sean Rogasch
Roar Rookie
No doubt Daisy has had a bad year, but when he gets his body right, he is elite. Not sure about your second point on him, perhaps some reports, but I don't think you can say all reports suggest he's an ordinary bloke, as that's certainly not what I've heard.
Australian Rules
Guest
I understand your points about Buddy leaving (certainly, the sun will come up at Hawthorn if he decides to go), but a big NO to D.Thomas...injury plagued, well past his best and an ordinary bloke by all accounts. The Hawks could do much better.
Connor
Guest
The were hundreds of disappointed fans when G.Ablett left Geelong. They all got over it and their favourite player is now Cam Guthrie! Note, G Ablett, was, and still is my favourite player despite being at GC now
Sean Rogasch
Roar Rookie
It's a really good point. I suppose as a (only slightly) more mature supporter I was talking strictly about the on-field effects. There is no doubt Bud is by far the kids favourite, you just have to see how many wear 23 on their footy jumpers, or "Little Buddys" as I call them. It would be my hope the club can convert those kids into Little Cyrils, Little Gunstans or Big Puopolos'. I'd like to think the club is strong enough off the field now to cope.
Cat
Roar Guru
As a devout Hawthorn hater, I hope they over pay him and end up having to shed players in the future due to an onerous contract. My gut feeling is he'll walk and Hawthorn will be better off for it tho.
David
Guest
I too am a Passionate Hawthorn Supporter and you make some very good points about Franklin leaving or staying. One thing that really worries me about him leaving is the disappointment it will have on the young supporters who love Buddy. The top merchandise sales from all clubs is Franklin and second is Rioli and this support for our stars will ensure our club will get stronger in the years ahead as these children grow up. We can not stop him leaving however it will be a real shame for our young supporters to lose a hero.