Buddy should get ‘top dollar’
HAWTHORN premiership player Jordan Lewis says his former teammate Lance Franklin should still command “top dollar” as one of the “top five” key forwards in the league.
Admitting he was shocked by reports Franklin was at loggerheads with Sydney over the club’s contract offer to him for 2023, Lewis said the champion goal kicker remained one of the elite key forwards and should be paid accordingly.
News Corp reported Franklin could retire or move to a third club if the Swans did not increase their contract offer to the 35-year-old.
And Lewis identified Collingwood and Fremantle as the clubs that could benefit the most from swooping on Franklin should he leave the Swans.
Lewis, a premiership teammate with Franklin at Hawthorn, said Franklin still warranted big money.
“It has come as a little bit of a shock to me,” Lewis said. “He is still arguably in the top five key forwards in the competition so what’s he worth?
“We are happy to pay 20year-olds, 21-year-olds who haven’t yet proved themselves well and above what they have earnt to be paid on potential.
“He has shown it year on year to be able to command big dollars and he is still showing to me, and I think the wider football community, that he can still command top dollar.”
Franklin has kicked 34 goals for the Swans this season, becoming the sixth man to bring up 1000 career goals amid chaotic scenes at the SCG in round 2.
The star forward’s nineyear $10m deal ends at the end of this season.
Lewis said the Magpies and Dockers were the clubs he viewed as the best fit for Franklin should he be forced to look elsewhere. But he was hopeful Franklin and the Swans could reach a deal.
“He has been there through a period of time where they have had a lot of transitions so it has been a period where a lot of young kids have come in,” Lewis said. “But I have been fortunate enough to be at dinner with ‘Bud’ and a few of the young kids have been there and they idolise him, they look up to him.
“I think he feels a sense of responsibility trying to educate and trying to help these kids become premiership players.
“So if he was able to hang around for another year or two years, this side has the potential to be that team.”