Do Sydney need a star forward to join the club once Lance Franklin likely steps away at the end of the 2023 season?
The Swans have consistently had a marquee forward throughout their 41-year history in the Harbour City with the likes of Warwick Capper, Tony Lockett, Barry Hall and Lance Franklin all being lured to the club as a big-ticket item.
The Swans themselves though don’t believe that they need a big star forward to drum up interest once Franklin retires and AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich asked Sydney great Gerard Healy and Kane Cornes whether they agreed with the club on SEN Sportsday.
Gabelich: “They’ve been up there 41 years.
“They've had (Warwick) Capper, they've had ‘Plugger’ (Tony Lockett), they've had Barry Hall and now Buddy (Lance Franklin.
“Do they need another marquee forward?
“I'm interested in your view because the view of the Swans is they no longer need that on the back of the success of their Academy and the likes of (Callum) Mills, Isaac Heeney and now Nick Blakey.”
Healy: “No, I don't think they need it.
“What everybody needs in these markets is to win games of footy.
“That's the greatest attraction. I mean, it's fantastic if you've got a superstar.
“But Tom Papley was a superstar for four or five weeks earlier in the season.
“Winning is the most important thing to put bums on seats, not high-flying full forwards.”
Cornes: “There's got to be one available as well.
“Tom De Koning would be a nice get, but he's not marquee.
“I'm just not sure there is a marquee forward that's available that they could get like they have had the success of doing in the past.”
If Franklin does opt to retire the Swans already have the likes of Logan McDonald – who was a top-five draft pick, Joel Amartey and Hayden McLean as emerging tall forwards to take his role in the side.