- Franklin retired at the end of the 2023 season
- Will be considered one of the best games the game has seen
- The swans were ready to part with him towards the end
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AFL legend Leigh Matthews has surprisingly claimed the Sydney Swans are better off without Lance Franklin as a report suggests the club grew tired of the superstar towards the end of his playing days.
Franklin, affectionately known as Buddy, will go down in history as one of the greatest Australian players to ever lace up a boot.
After winning two premierships with Hawthorn, the eight-time All Australian and four-time Coleman Medalist played his career from 2014 until the end of 2023 in Sydney colors, scoring his 1000th AFL goal at the SCG in 2022.
While the club managed to rise to eighth place in the AFL standings last season, the Swans were unable to win another premiership with their superstar forward in his final campaign.
Franklin is chaired off the field by his Sydney Swans teammates after playing his 350th AFL match
Thousands of screaming fans packed the SCG to celebrate with Buddy scoring his 1000th goal in 2022.
AFL reporter Tom Morris said the Swans were starting to tire of Franklin towards the end.
Today, leading football journalist Tom Morris revealed the club were growing tired of carrying Franklin on their books with his hefty salary in the twilight of his career.
“The Swans would never say this publicly because Buddy has been so good to them for so long, but make no mistake, the Swans had enough of Buddy last year,” Morris said on Channel Nine.
“They were ready to move on from Buddy last year 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.
While the 37-year-old was a major asset for the Swans, his form – by his high standards – dipped noticeably in his later years.
Matthews was the Brisbane Lions coach during their famous three AFL premierships in the early 2000s and had to make some tough decisions in 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 Friday night’s win over Collingwood) has proven to be a revelation for the Swans since leaving the Demons.
Franklin with his wife Jesinta and two young children Tallulah and Rocky say goodbye to Sydney Swans supporters
Now, after watching the Swans lead the Cleaners through reigning premiers Collingwood, he says the club is better off without Franklin after spending some of his huge salary recruiting the 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 36-year-old veteran Buddy Franklin, but his retirement and departure from the Swans team means they have a big chunk of the salary cap, which allowed them to get Brodie Grundy.
“So I think less Buddy, more Grundy, makes the Swans a better team.”
Franklin, pictured with his wife Jesinta, was not just a footballer for the Swans, he was a very 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 stayed pretty much at that level for most of this century, the Swans. Their roster management has been exceptional,” 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 is not a superstar ruckman, but he is a very competitive man who helps on the field level.
“He’s not very good in the air, OK on takedowns, doesn’t mark the ball much, but goes in after the ball at ground level which helps the Swans whole clearing game.
“I think the Swans are better off with Brodie in and Buddy out.”