- Franklin retired at the end of the 2023 season
- Will go down in history as one of the best the game has ever seen
- Swans were ready to say goodbye to him towards the end
AFL legend Leigh Matthews has made the stunning claim that the Sydney Swans are better off without Lance Franklin, as a report suggests the club fell ill with the superstar towards the end of his playing days.
Franklin, affectionately known as Buddy, will go down in history as one of the greatest Aussie Rules players to ever lace up a shoe.
After winning two premierships with Hawthorn, the eight-time All Australian and four-time Coleman Medal winner played his career in Sydney colors from 2014 to the end of 2023, scoring his 1,000th AFL goal at the SCG in 2022.
While the club managed to squeak to eighth on the AFL ladder last season, the Swans failed to clinch another premiership with their superstar forward in his final season.
Franklin is chaired off the field by Sydney Swans teammates after playing his 350th AFL match
Thousands of wild fans poured into the SCG to celebrate with Buddy as he scored his 1,000th goal in 2022
AFL reporter Tom Morris said the Swans started to tire of Franklin towards the end
Now prominent football journalist Tom Morris has revealed that the club were growing tired of carrying Franklin on the books in the twilight of his career with his hefty salary.
“The Swans would never say this publicly because Buddy was so good to them for so long, but make no mistake, the Swans had enough of Buddy last year,” Morris said on Channel Nine.
“Last year they were ready to move on from Buddy and the fact he retired without a press conference makes me think he was done with the Swans too. It was time to part ways.”
Although the 37-year-old was a major draw for the Swans, his form – by his lofty standards – dipped noticeably in his final years.
Matthews coached the Brisbane Lions during their famous trio of AFL premierships in the early 2000s and had to make some tough selection decisions during his time.
Leigh Matthews believes the Swans are better off without Franklin and have done well in recruitment since his departure
Brodie Grundy (pictured center after last Friday night’s win over Collingwood) has been a revelation for the Swans since joining from the Demons
Franklin, his wife Jesinta and his two young children Tallulah and Rocky say goodbye to the supporters of Sydney Swans
Now, after watching the Swans guide the cleaners through defending premier Collingwood, he said the club was better off without Franklin, having spent part of his huge salary recruiting former Pies and Demons ruckman Brodie Grundy .
“I think it’s almost sacrilege to say the Swans are better without Buddy Franklin,” Matthews said.
“You’re talking about the veteran Buddy Franklin, the 36-year-old, but because he’s retiring and leaving the Swans team, they have a big chunk of the salary cap, which allowed them to get Brodie Grundy.
“So I think minus Buddy, plus Grundy, makes the Swans a better team.”
Franklin, pictured with his wife Jesinta, was not just a footballer for the Swans, he was a highly marketable player who brought many new fans to the club
Franklin will go down in history as one of the greatest players of all time with two premierships and four Coleman Medals
Matthews praised the Swans for their list management and their latest coup to secure Grundy’s services.
“They’ve been around for most of this century, the Swans. Their list management has been excellent,” he said.
“I think the Grundy thing just happened, but the fact that Buddy’s career was over and they had the money to pay Brodie Grundy, who’s not a superstar ruckman but he’s a really competitive guy who helps out on the ground level.
“He’s not that good in the air, okay on the hits, doesn’t mark the ball much but comes in after the ball at ground level, which helps the Swans’ whole game.
“I think the Swans will be better off with Brodie in and Buddy out.”