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AFL news 2022: Lance Franklin breaks silence on future, Swans to Lions rumors

AFL news 2022: Lance Franklin breaks silence on future, Swans to Lions rumors

Sydney Swans forward Lance Franklin is still “undecided” about his future in the sport, officially putting contract talks on hold and hinting at a possible retirement.

According to a report by Nine reporter Michael Atkinson, the 35-year-old is considering turning his back on the Swans for a deal with the Brisbane Lions.

The Nine report was immediately countered by Swans chief executive Tom Harley, who confessed the veteran forward’s move to Brisbane was “news to him”.

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Sports broadcaster Andy Maher later claimed Franklin would stay with the Sydney-based club, potentially on a one-year contract extension.

“I can’t say where it came from, but Franklin’s not going to Brisbane,” he told SEN on Friday.

“He’s not going, he’s going to stay at Sydney and they’re in the throws of working out the contract, so it does sound like he’s going to play another year at the Swans if this information is true and where it’s coming from is pretty strong.”

On Saturday morning, Franklin’s manager Adam Finch released a statement confirming contract talks had been put on hold so the 1000-goal hero could focus on Sydney’s run towards the finals.

“At this stage conversations have been paused around my contract so I can put all my focus on playing footy,” Franklin said.

“No further comment will be made until the season is done and I have decided about my future.

“I am still undecided and need time after the season to make a family decision about whether I continue to play next year.”

Franklin has been in excellent form this season, kicking 41 goals in 17 games for Swans. However, the ongoing contract drama has become a significant distraction for John Longmire’s side as they approach September.

Speaking to Fox Footy, former Hawthorn forward Ben Dixon argued that Franklin has more chance of “playing on the moon than Victoria” next year.

“I reckon there’s some real merit in (rumors of the Brisbane move),” he said.

“My gut feels is yes (he’ll leave Sydney).

“He’s more chance of playing on the moon than in Victoria.

“Going for one more tilt, going to a different club, it’s not going to tarnish anything about your reputation in the game.

“He’s only going to go north.

“He’s a Perth boy, but you can rule out those two clubs (Fremantle and West Coast). You can rule out the Giants. It’s a process of elimination – the Gold Coast or it’s Brisbane.

“Brisbane’s right in the wheelhouse to win it. If it’s not this year, they still have got a little tilt next year.

“I know his motivation in signing a long-term deal with Sydney was sustainable success.

“I think his drive and his motivation – he wants to win a flag.

“He could be the hottest property in Queensland.

“If you look at it and you say, ‘Who’s closer to the flag (Gold Coast or Brisbane)?’ Well, there’s no doubt Brisbane are.”

Lions coach Chris Fagan believes that if Franklin is considering a move to Queensland it would be more likely to be for retirement rather than continuing his football career.

“I would have thought if they are moving to Queensland, that’s perhaps an indication that Bud’s going to retire from AFL football,” he said on Friday.

“If it came to pass down the track that they do move here, and. someone reaches out from his camp and suggests that he still wants to play, then we would be remiss as a footy club not to go and have a conversation with him.

“As far I’m concerned he’s a Sydney Swans player, and if any of that was going to happen, it would happen when the season’s all over.

“My latest communication with him was a text message I sent to him when he kicked his 1000th (AFL) goal which was four months ago.

“I don’t know what will play out in the future but the way I see it right now is if he is moving to Queensland to live, I would suggest that he’s going to retire.”

Franklin joined the Swans from the Hawthorn Hawks in 2014 on a nine-year, $10 million deal.

While he has been injury prone in recent years, the scenes of fans flooding onto the SCG when the eight-time All-Australian kicked his 1000th career goal showed he is still one of the sport’s biggest drawcards.

The Swans will face North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with the first bounce scheduled for 1.10pm AEST.

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AFL world reacts after Collingwood defeats Melbourne, smashes Ed Langdon

AFL world reacts after Collingwood defeats Melbourne, smashes Ed Langdon

Collingwood has done the unthinkable, winning their 11th game straight in yet another thriller at the MCG.

The 15.6 (96) to 13.11 (89) result was yet another nailbiter for the 2022 Magpies, who have become the masters of the heart-stopping victory. The Pies have gone undefeated since round 9 and claimed eight of the streak for less than 10 points.

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The streak is the longest since the club’s 14-game run in 2011 but an absolute shock after a horrible season in 2021 – 17th-placed finish that saw Nathan Buckley’s tenure as coach end and significant boardroom upheaval.

What a difference a year makes.

Despite the close results, it’s clear it’s no fluke as the Magpies have firmed into premiership contention and now sit second on the AFL ladder, behind only Geelong on percentage — although the Cats play St Kilda on Saturday night for a chance to move a win ahead in the minor premiership race.

Speaking after the result, the Fox Footy team were blown away.

Demons great Garry Lyon said: “This football club, what they’re doing here now, it’s one for the ages, I can’t remember anything like it.”

Lions champion Jonathan Brown added: “The belief now, it’s become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The belief they’ve grown out of these close games, it’s no luck now. They train themselves and they believe in themselves in those situations late.”

Lyon said the result “doesn’t make sense”, as the Magpies were behind on disposals (409-316), contested possessions (161-139), clearances (52-32) and inside 50s (65-41) and yet still claimed the victory.

Fans were blown away by the result.

The Guardian’s Antoun Issa posted: “We are not pretenders. We’re the real deal.”

Presenter Nat Edwards wrote: “What a quacking final quarter of football from the Pies. Pressure out of this world.”

Radio presenter Andy Maher said: “You just gotta laugh, dip your lid and embrace the utter madness of it all.”

Nine’s Paddy Sweeney added: “This is off the charts. And if it’s a slice of what’s in store come finals, bring on September.”

Footy great Jude Bolton commented: “Sensational game of footy. Dug so deep once again the Pies. Huge win against the reigning Premiers. 11 in a row.”

Broadcaster Daniel Garb noted: “Collingwood’s pressure has been incredible. Seven of their last eight wins before tonight may have been narrow victories against bottom eight sides but they built up the most valuable thing in sport in that run – momentum.”

Journalist Jack Hudson added: “Heart, pressure and just raw hunger. Collingwood unbelievably impressive.”

Former footy star Robert Shaw posted: “Next level footy… Feet into 2nd spot.”

There was no shortage of spite during or after the match either as fans revealed in comments from Demons star Ed Langdon.

“They’re sort of all duck, no dinner in a sense. If they’re playing fast footy on their terms they’re a very hard team to stop,” Langdon said earlier in the week.

“They’re a bit of a one-trick pony at times, so hopefully we can dampen the way they want to play and off the back of that go out and offensively play the way we want to play.”

Ducks were all over the tweets after the game, while the players made sure they let Langdon know they’d heard his comments.

Pies came from everywhere after Brayden Maynard smashed Langdon early in the game.

“There’s his duck dinner right there,” commentator Luke Hodge said.

“They’ll come at him all night,” Brian Taylor added.

“It’ll be interesting to see how Langdon deals with that. He’s normally out on the wing… he’s going to be looking over his shoulder, ”Hodge said.

Speaking to Maynard after the match, he revealed the Pies had made it personal.

“We did use it as a source to look back on because I feel like Ed Langdon sometimes speaks in the media and doesn’t realize what he’s actually saying,” Maynard said. “When I got that first tackle on him, I let him know about it.”

This does not seem to be a Collingwood side you want to get on your bad side.

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AFL 2022: Fresh twist in Buddy Franklin saga amid conflicting reports about move from Swans to Brisbane

AFL 2022: Fresh twist in Buddy Franklin saga amid conflicting reports about move from Swans to Brisbane

Buddy Franklin is reportedly edging closer to a deal to remain at the Sydney Swans as rumors swirl over his future in the AFL.

Channel 9 reported on Thursday Franklin was set to turn his back on Sydney for a deal with the Brisbane Lions.

The report said the Lions and Franklin’s management have already entered into preliminary discussions.

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It was immediately countered by Swans CEO Tom Harley who said the report linking Sydney’s star forward to Brisbane was “news to him”.

“There’s nothing to announce, but there’s nothing untoward at the same time (on Franklin’s future),” Harley told 3AW.

“There’s no hurry from our point of view and no hurry from his point of view.

“Things are all tracking well at the moment.”

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said on Friday the Lions would be open to having a chat with Franklin if he was indeed considering moving north to continue his career.

The Lions coach felt if Franklin was to relocate to Queensland it would likely be for retirement rather than to continue his football career.

“I would have thought if they are moving to Queensland, that’s perhaps an indication that Bud’s going to retire from AFL football,” Fagan said.

But sports broadcaster Andy Maher said on Friday he has been told Franklin will stay with the Swans and is simply signing up the details around a contract extension.

“I can’t say where it came from, but Franklin’s not going to Brisbane,” Maher said on his SEN radio show.

“He’s not going, he’s going to stay at Sydney and they’re in the throws of working out the contract, so it does sound like he’s going to play another year at the Swans if this information is true and where it’s coming from is pretty strong.

“They’re arguing whether the last $100,000 is marketing money or how it fits in, how they can use what they have available to them within the rules of the game to satisfy what is right for Franklin to receive.

“They’re right at the very end and the edges of just tidying up the contract for next year.”

The conflicting reports come as former Hawthorn forward Ben Dixon argued Franklin has more chance of “playing on the moon than Victoria” next year, with Brisbane the perfect fit.

“I reckon there’s some real merit in (rumors of the Brisbane move),” Dixon told Fox Footy.

“My gut feels is yes (he’ll leave Sydney).

“He’s more chance of playing on the moon than in Victoria.

“Going for one more tilt, going to a different club, it’s not going to tarnish anything about your reputation in the game.

“He’s only going to go north.

“He’s a Perth boy, but you can rule out those two clubs (Fremantle and West Coast). You can rule out the Giants. It’s a process of elimination – the Gold Coast or it’s Brisbane.

“Brisbane’s right in the wheelhouse to win it. If it’s not this year, they still have got a little tilt next year.

“I know his motivation in signing a long-term deal with Sydney was sustainable success.

“I think his drive and his motivation – he wants to win a flag.

“He could be the hottest property in Queensland.

“If you look at it and you say: ‘Who’s closer to the flag (Gold Coast or Brisbane)?’ Well, there’s no doubt Brisbane are.”

Franklin and his wife Jesinta have made plenty of headlines in recent months after the bombshell news the 35-year-old believed the Swans were lowballing him.

Franklin joined the Swans from Hawthorn in 2014 on a nine-year $10 million deal but the star forward was looking for $700,000 per season.

While Franklin has been injury prone in recent years, the scenes of fans flooding onto the SCG when he kicked his 1000th career goal earlier this year showed he is still one of the sport’s biggest drawcards.

But reports of a move out of Sydney dominated headlines in early July and Jesinta told Channel 7’s The Morning Show “we’ve got options” when questioned about the speculation.

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