It now seems almost laughable that Sydney recruit Kurt Tippett was last year lauded as the AFL club’s biggest signing since Tony Lockett.
Right or wrong at the time, there’s no doubt who holds that title – or will on Friday when Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin takes up a nine-year deal worth over $1 million a season.
Tippett’s protracted departure from Adelaide to the Swans on a four-year deal worth $3.55 million may have been one of the off-season’s most dramatic stories, but for many Sydneysiders it generated nothing but ambivalence.
Tippett impressed throughout the second half of the regular season, but his clean set of hands never came close to lifting the side or sport’s profile compared to what Lockett achieved after he departed St Kilda and joined the Swans for the 1995 season.
Franklin won’t be able to match the on-field deeds of Lockett, the game’s all-time leading goal-kicker, but in terms of marketing worth the pair could be harder to split.
“Haven’t seen excitement like this at Swans since ’87,” tweeted self-proclaimed excitement machine Warwick Capper, a man who got tongues wagging and bums in seats at the SCG in the 1980s.
Franklin’s drawing power was already evident on Tuesday, when the vast majority of Sydney’s attention was on the NRL’s night of nights – the Dally M awards.
At the mere sniff of a possible Franklin sighting, cameramen and photographers were ordered to spend the day waiting outside the Swans’ Moore Park base.
“It’d bring a lot of spotlight on the game in Sydney and you’d probably see a lot more people coming to their games,” Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh said earlier this year when asked about Franklin’s potential impact in the harbour city.
McVeigh, who hails from NSW’s Central Coast, and fellow local product Kieren Jack are among those current Sydney players that watched Lockett’s memorable 1996 preliminary final behind at the SCG.
They both say it made them Swans fans for life.
Few men to have donned the red and white since can claim to wield that sort of power – Barry Hall included.
Time will tell if Franklin achieves such a feat.
But don’t be surprised to see plenty of Sydney jersey with No.23 on the back – presuming 20-year-old Jordan Lockyer hands over his number to Franklin – come round one next year.
Liam
Roar Rookie
Disagree here, fast forward a year, and we will see marked improvements in GWS. Top draft picks will eventually, by weight of numbers see them rise to the top.
Australian Rules
Guest
To put his 'marketability' into perspective, Buddy sells 9 times more merchandise than the No. 2 most marketable.
Pat
Guest
Buddy is obviously smarter than he looks - great move for him and the Swans. It does however continue the disaster that is GWS - if they can't get a bloke when offering 2 mil a year they have no hope to get anyone. The AFL has sacrificed a generation of top draft picks on this folly! No doubt many of the kids were staying with a hopelessly losing team with the promise Buddy and other established stars were on the way - WRONG. Some of the best kids are now getting out of GWS and going back home - the cue is going to get bigger.
doubledutch
Roar Pro
No buddy was no coming out of contract and since free agency has come in over the past 2 years they basically do not have to give much up for him. Also Tippet was a no brainer for the Swans because he wanted to move the Sydney and the Crows had to give him up because of their Salary cap breaches. Again the swans did not have to give much up to get him. Fitting someone under the salary cap is a hell of a lot easier than trying to give players up for what they think is good value. The fact is Hawthorne can't do a hell of a lot since buddy is now a free agent, where as last year they could ahve negotiated a lot harder to let him go, which means the Swans would have had to give more up. Great move by the Swans really, especially with it set over 9 years. I just don't think Buddy is that good though personally.
Penster
Guest
So Buddy's management approached the Swans at the conclusion of the 2012 grand final - does anyone know if he was looking to move to Sydney for season 2013 but they already had a deal on the table with Tippett? Reckon they'd have taken Buddy over Tippett last year?
Martyn
Guest
I just can't understand why the Swans would take this risk. They've done so well using either young players or re-cycling discards. Why would they change this formula and risk the culture that they're famous for. They're a smart club but I fear they just may have been too clever this time.
Blue Bagger
Guest
How stupid are some people? Buddy is probably worth a lot more than his $1.2m a year salary. Think about the membership sales, jumpers and merchandising, and extra sponsorship. The eyeballs this guy brings will be worth carrying him for years. All he has to do is play ok and kick a few goals once in a while, play decoy dragging in 1-2 of the best defenders (as he did all the finals), and watch the Swans win. The rest of the time he parties down at Bondi lapping up the vapid superficial lifestyle of Sydney. He's no genuis, like any other bogan he just wants to buy more toys, more ink for his arms, and be photographed at a nightclub. The idea that he's leaving a fishbowl is funny, it will just be a different fishbowl that's all. Have a look at Beckham, he hadn't played a decent game for years, yet still the greatest club in the world (Real Madrid) signed him.
Doubledutch
Guest
There is only one Tony Locket... there is only one Tony Looooocket.... there is only one Tony Loooocket.... You clearly were not around at the SCG singing this in the mid 90's. No one will ever be as good as Plugger, well a forward anyway, except for Gary Ablet Sr, maybe Dunstall, ahh hell come to think of it............
David
Guest
It is a bold move by Sydney - could pay off with a couple of premierships or it could cost them a heap of decent players. No doubt the profile of AFL will go up for a year or two before it all settles down. Not a big Franklin fan but good luck to him - he's secures a long term contract in a short term business. Not sure what Ablett got to go to Gold Coast but I'm sure it looks like a bargain now.
Chris H
Guest
There will never be another Plugger. But Buddy has a golden opportunity to make his own legend as a Swan. Let's hope he takes it.
Tony
Guest
Amazing move by Swans. Certainly got everyone's attention - even in this big NRL week. Swans acting like the city it represents - cool, calculating & audacious. Good for Buddy to get out of the Melbourne fish-bowl. Sorry for Giants.
Brian
Guest
9 Years for a 26 year old who peaked at 21 is ridiculous. Buddy a great runner for his height but do they really think he'll be running hard at 35 or simply that the AFL will bail them out of the contract by then. Will be amazed if they teach him how to kick.
TomC
Roar Guru
Maybe Buddy will be the next Bradshaw. Three year contract. Couldn't get beyond the first year of it.
Franko
Guest
Barry Hall was the next plugger. Buddy will be the next Capper.