AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan is adamant there is nothing more to Lance Franklin’s medical problems than what has been made public.
McLachlan also gave more strong support to Franklin’s fellow indigenous Sydney teammate Adam Goodes, saying the boos from some fans would not diminish the legacy of the two-time Brownlow Medallist.
Franklin will not play again this season and, predictably, there are rampant rumours around his health problems.
The Swans have said he has mental health issues and also suffers mild epilepsy.
McLachlan was asked on Wednesday night if he was confident that the Swans’ explanation about Franklin could be taken at face value.
“Yes, 100 per cent,” he told Fox Footy’s AFL360 program.
“I feel I have enough information – you don’t know everything and I’m not trying to sound outraged.
“I feel confident enough that this issue is as described and please give him the space he needs to deal with it because it’s unbelievably tough.”
McLachlan also said his information was that Franklin was receiving the support he needed.
“My priority is to do everything I can to ensure the person (who) is the target of the rumour or innuendo is okay,” he said.
“I feel I’ve spoken to all the right people around Lance and I feel confident he’s getting the right help and the right support and he’s feeling supported.”
The booing of Goodes returned as an issue in Saturday’s qualifying final against Fremantle.
It was the first time he had played at Perth’s Domain Stadium since the infamous match against West Coast on July 26 that first brought the issue to a head.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon renewed his strong support for Goodes after Saturday’s game.
The booing was not as bad as during the Eagles match, but there are concerns about what might happen if Sydney win through to a Perth preliminary final against West Coast.
“There’s that risk, but there were always going to be some swings and roundabouts in this,” McLachlan said.
“Everyone was realistic enough with that and you just have to keep having conversations with people.
“Ross Lyon’s comments after were outstanding.”
Goodes could retire at the end of this season and McLachlan said, regardless of the booing, the player’s legacy would be untarnished.
“If he retires this year, it’s disappointing that it (the booing) has happened this year,” McLachlan added.
“(But) Adam Goodes will be remembered as a legend of our game for what he’s done on and off the field.”
McLachlan was also hopeful the issue around Goodes would eventually lead to positive change.
“He’s been part of a conversation that Australia has had through this,” he said.
“We’re not through it and, in the end – maybe this is a little optimistic – it will be part of his legacy and story.
“Actually, he was at the centrepiece of a conversation with the whole of Australia around race that will add to his off-field exploits.”
Happy Jack
Guest
The NRL would never stoop that low...The rumour started somewhere and having worked in TV where my stations headkickers started up many rumours about opposing stations celebrities I could well believe it. Some took off - some didn't...
Michael Huston
Guest
How are they supposed to know when Buddy will return? It's mental illness, and it's a personal condition. There's no historical precedent you can base recovery on. It could be two weeks, it could be two years. Buddy himself wouldn't know, so how would Sydney and the AFL know?
Mark
Guest
Or you could mind your own business? They don't owe you anything.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
While people *could* you're not answering why they *should* here at all. Perhaps all the people whinging should toughen up instead, it shouldn't be all that hard for them to not care about what some yobbos do at the footy after all.
Mike Dugg
Roar Rookie
Just come out with what exact illness it is and if he will play again. It's not hard. All this speculation and questioning will end. Buddy is one of the biggest names in the game. The media will hover until it comes out, one way or another
Michael Huston
Guest
Judging from the above comments, an issue that continues to rear it's ugly head is that of choice. The critics believe that because we live in a free country with freedom of speech that everyone has the right to do and say whatever they want. That it's fine to accuse an organisation of using mental illness as a cover-up for something bigger. That it's fine to single a player out and boo him just because they don't like him. Guess what? Both are disrespectful. Both go beyond being given a free pass for yahooing at the footy after a few beers or having a player you love to hate. They are calculated attacks on the character of everyone from Goodes to Buddy to McLachlan to Longmire. Toughen up Australia, it's not that hard to bottle your feelings up out of respect.
Mike
Guest
Are you serious Happy Jack. Thats the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time. Do you seriously think Fairfax, Channel Nine and the NRL are behind this?
Happy Jack
Guest
Obviously...
Momentbymoment
Guest
I was waiting for this. As soon as the AFL speaks out the - how dare you tell me what to do brigade pops up again. Where has this attitude come from? We live in a very privileged country with far better living standards than most of the globe. Why are people so petty?
jax
Guest
I'd be happy with that but for it to be more effective don't tell the fans, ask them and clearly state why they feel that it's important, it has to be personal and if it isn't fans will see through it. Also, no player should be forced or enticed to participate in the video.
9 Monkeys
Roar Rookie
Stands up and claps!
Happy Jack
Guest
I am not sure why the Aboriginal players in the home team don't make a video message for the scoreboard before the games against the Swans condemning the booing - if the home team fans still boo then the home team deserves them...Every team has Aboriginal players...
Wal
Roar Guru
Some truisms about freedom of speech (Australia doesn't have such a law) “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an ass of yourself.” ― Oscar Wilde “The problem with today’s world is that everyone believes they have the right to express their opinion AND have others listen to it. The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” ― Brian Cox and my personal favourite “Freedom of speech does not protect you from the consequences of saying stupid sh*t. [Blog post, March 12, 2012]” ― Jim C. Hines
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Dal, I think this is a classic case of, 'damned if you do, damned if you don't". Gill in the past few months has been criticised for passing comments too early on various issues, and then criticised in the same breathe for not speaking out quick enough. The rumours about drugs and Buddy of course needed to be addressed, and could escalate to epic proportions if there is any truth. So again, I can understand why the CEO is getting involved here.
jax
Guest
I get your point Dal and I don't disagree but Ryan might also be touching on the wider issue of us living in what is fast becoming a police state (all for our own good of course and generally to fix something that our leaders have previously mis-managed). Who is Gill to be telling us what we should and shouldn't be doing? That's the other issue that needs consideration. To be clear, I'm not condoning the booing of Goodes or the never ending interest in everything Buddy. Personally, I don't trust anything Gill, AFL House or the media tells me so this article hasn't shed any light on anything other the media's unwillingness to leave Buddy alone, even after they were asked to. This is the same media that Gill and the AFL are in bed with. If I respected Gill and if he was a consistent administrator I might be more open to listening to him but it's in one ear out the other for me and that's all that his words deserve. That doesn't mean that we should boo Goodes or chase Buddy, I'm not interested in doing either. But I would like to see our politicians, public figures and the media stop telling me what I should and shouldn't be doing and what class of human I am if I don't obey their orders. They won't be happy until we are all compliant citizens behaving in unison and as expected by the authorities. The penalties for not conforming will increase in the coming years and decades. There is always a very good reason for doing anything e.g don't boo Gooodes because he feels it's racist and it upsets him, nothing wrong with that it in principle but what do we gain and lose in the process and what does this look like in 20-50 years from now is the question I'd be asking.
Wal
Roar Guru
I understand what you are saying but I guess my point is, any organisation should have but a physical and mental health policy. So while the CEO may not comment on individuals the company should have a business culture that is driven by the CEO. The Police are a perfect example of an organisation that is letting down its staff, not one that the AFL should be compared to. Rather than saying the AFL are over doing it we should be asking why aren't the Police doing more.
Happy Jack
Guest
Fairfax is in a deep business relationship with Channel Nine whose CEO Gyngell is on record as saying the NRL should be backed to keep AFL out of NSW/Qld lest it interfere with NRL..If Channel Nine can "suggest" to Eddie to bring forward the Malthouse/Buckley handover announcement to take the shine off Karmichael Hunt AFL signing then it wouldn't be hard to imagine some goon in Willoughby coming up with this gossip only for the Fairfax press to run with it....
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
The amount of press. Which is fine, the amount of interest in it determines the level of potential for things to get out of hand, so the higher up the tree it'll go.
Franko
Guest
Exhibit A http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-sydney-swans-tackle-rumour-and-innuendo-over-lance-buddy-franklin-20150916-gjoh9f.html Thought fairfax were a bit better than this. I for one have read the headline but won't click.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
True, and I even mentioned understanding why Gill would speak out about Buddy. The simple (but sad) truth is, the media probably wouldn't ask about a low profile player/officer, therefore wouldn't warrant the CEO/ police commissioner speaking out or taking any personal interest in the outcome. You just can't at that level, otherwise you probably would end up with mental health issues yourself (opinion there). The real issue for some is the inequality. This isn't an AFL issue, nor isolated just to mental health. Some will ask, "what makes Buddy so special to warrant special treatment here and the AFL CEO taking an interest in his case"?