Sydney Hall of Famer Gerard Healy is disappointed details around Lance Franklin’s contract negotiations are being played out in public.
A bombshell Herald Sun report states Franklin will leave the Swans for a third AFL club or retire if he’s not paid what he believes he’s worth.
The report says Sydney has offered the 35-year-old about $500,000 to play on in 2023. Franklin is reportedly wanting somewhere between $700,000 and $800,000.
Franklin’s nine-year, $10 million deal with the Swans is up at season’s end.
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“The most disappointing thing for me is it’s being played out in the public,” Healy told Sportsday.
“It’s unedifying, I assume it’s come from his management, we shouldn’t assume anything, but it certainly hasn’t come from the Sydney Swans.
“Sometimes these things come from third parties.
“The Swans don’t talk about these things and there’s no upside in it for the Swans. Where’s the upside?”
Is Sydney’s offer to Franklin a fair deal?
The four-time Coleman Medallist has kicked an equal team-high 34 goals this season and is coming off a 51-goal campaign in 2021.
“I don’t think $500,000 for Lance Franklin for next year is unreasonable, that’s my personal opinion,” Sportsday co-host Sam McClure said.
Brownlow Medallist Healy agreed: “That’s about where I sit.
“I would’ve thought they’d finish somewhere between $500,000 and $700,000.
“Of the $500,000, there may already be $150,000 of promotion in there. That’s a pretty good deal in anyone’s language.
“They’ve got a lot of young kids coming through that they need to keep for Sydney to achieve what ‘Buddy’ went up there to achieve.”
Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham is confident the club and Franklin will come to an agreement on a new deal.
“Both the club and Lance are keen for him to play on,” Pridham told 7 News.
“We are confident a deal will get done.”
Franklin has kicked 1029 AFL goals across a decorated 332-game career.