Can someone explain why GWS need Franklin?

[Grongey]

Really?. Go and ask a Sydneysider who Nat Fyfe and Jake Carlisle are.
They will not have a clue.
You don't get it either.

All I'm saying is, don't underestimate the Sydney market. If Buddy can deliver like Tony Lockett, fine by me, I hope he does.

But you've got to win games up here, otherwise the crowds drift away.

 

[Colonial]

All I'm saying is, don't underestimate the Sydney market. If Buddy can deliver like Tony Lockett, fine by me, I hope he does.

But you've got to win games up here, otherwise the crowds drift away.

People over value Locketts contribution. At the same time as Locketts arrival and the Swans improvement there was a little thing going on up here called the super league war.

It was all in the timing.

 

[Lefthanded]

I really don't think he's right for a club like GWS, considering where their list is at. Seriously, the Giants should just develop Jeremy Cameron, Jonathan Patton and (after drafting him) Tom Boyd. Buddy will just get in the way of their development, won't be there and/or won't be at his best when they're ready for a premiership tilt (which is 2018 onwards IMO), and won't provide leadership (a la Ablett, Judd) to make the spend worth it. Money is much better spent on midfield and defence, possibly on more than one player. People can talk about marketing all you like, but considering AFL clubs are not private entities (and are in effect limited in their money-making scope, and on how they can spend it), and that the AFL are invested in Western Sydney for the long term, and aren't going to just let the Giants die if they don't turn a massive profit, GWS will not sink or swim on the back of Buddy.

TBH, the whole situation just reeks of Warwick Capper to Brisbane, and if anyone can recall/knows how that all went down, it wasn't good at all for player or club.

Very good point with Capper. Maybe those who believe in Buddy's marketing value for GWS (& I'm not saying it's anywhere near zero) should answer a poll on what was better for Brisbane - A) Warwick Capper B) Wining 3 premierships

GWS should do what helps their on field performance develop quickest as this will bring sustained interest in the team. If Franklin helps with this well and good but even if most of the $$ being bantered about is outside the salary cap (marketing purposes) he'd still be taking up more $ than players who better fit their on field need.

Ask Michael Voss if Fevola was a successful quick fix?

 

[cammo78]

TBH, the whole situation just reeks of Warwick Capper to Brisbane, and if anyone can recall/knows how that all went down, it wasn't good at all for player or club.

I get what you mean. But to be fair, that situation was more to do with the circus that was the Brisbane Bears at Carrara than it was Warwick Capper.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Why do they need Franklin?

Because Vlad said so, that's why.

 

[jimbler]

5/ Throw millions at a young player of the Nat Fyfe mould if you like but Franklin? - I just don't get it.

I agree with you 100%, but whenever I see clips of Fyfe, I get the feeling that he's one of those players that wouldn't move away from home for any amount of money.

 

[Damon_3388]

Very good point with Capper. Maybe those who believe in Buddy's marketing value for GWS (& I'm not saying it's anywhere near zero) should answer a poll on what was better for Brisbane - A) Warwick Capper B) Wining 3 premierships

GWS should do what helps their on field performance develop quickest as this will bring sustained interest in the team. If Franklin helps with this well and good but even if most of the $$ being bantered about is outside the salary cap (marketing purposes) he'd still be taking up more $ than players who better fit their on field need.

Ask Michael Voss if Fevola was a successful quick fix?

It was only when the Bears stripped things back, and focussed on bringing in and nurturing their youth did they experience real success. Consider how many of those Lions Premiership players got their start as Bear cubs in the early/mid-'90s - Michael Voss, Justin Leppitsch, Darryl White, Clark Keating, Jason Akermanis, Chris Scott, Marcus Ashcroft, Craig McRae, etc. GWS have a head start on this with all their young draftees, so I don't see why they need to derail it by fattening Buddy's bank balance.

It really comes down to a lack of patience, and the misguided notion that throwing money (or a big contract) at a "problem" (marketing, crowds) will cure all. Sometimes the quick fix is not the best one.

I get what you mean. But to be fair, that situation was more to do with the circus that was the Brisbane Bears at Carrara than it was Warwick Capper.

Oh, there were many factors at play, but I would not be surprise to see this ending up the same way. Capper didn't have the ability of Franklin, but he was just as (if not moreso) marketable and exciting a player when on song. Capper did a lot to help the game in Sydney (if anything, his contribution there is grossly underrated), but his signing with the Bears did a lot to hurt the game in Brisbane too, and it was a real personal and professional mistake for both him and the Bears.

Like Buddy, Capper was a superstar of the game, but he wasn't a leader or a bloke whose example you look to for guidance or inspiration, a la a Chris Judd or Gary Ablett Jnr. He was a personality, a character, an exciting and singular talent, but not someone you build around. The dessert, not the meat and potatoes. He's great in a team like Hawthorn, who can afford to carry him through and mask his inconsistencies, and take the pressure off, but that sort of thing gets exposed pretty quickly in a poor side, and it makes it hard to justify paying those big bucks (the Bears made Capper the highest paid player in VFL history when they signed him in 1988, and it's safe to say Buddy would eclipse any sort of record on that front if signed by GWS), and for the enigmatic player themselves to maintain focus and confidence. He was treading that line regularly as a Swan, but Capper became caricature and cartoon character while in Brisbane, losing himself and what made him great in the money and the sun. Depending on who you talk to, Buddy already has a reputation as a 'party boy' in the Melbourne bubble, so you can't tell me that plonking him down in Sydney with a seven-figure annual salary is going to help him focus on his footy. And who would pull him up? He'd be Buddy Franklin, superstar, million dollar man, king of Sydney. I just don't think that's the right road for a fledgling club like GWS to go down.

People say Sydney as a city is more style over substance, but it's substance over style that has helped footy establish itself in NSW with the Swans. While the Giants need to establish their own identity, I don't think trying to be the big-spending glamour club is the right way to go about it out in the Western suburbs. Patience, hard work and building something for the long term will be more beneficial than trying to "make a splash" with a big signing.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Franklin will be a flop for GWS. He'll just become another player. There's a guy playing for the Roosters in the nrl gf, a winger. Athletically matches or is superior to Franklin. I forgot his name but he's a machine.

 

[HFF]

Bums on seats would be a start I would have thought.

 

[Blacky]

I would pay Fyfe anything if I were GWS.

 

[bugalugs213]

Hes no good, hes lucky to be getting a spot at any club.
He gave up trying in 2008.
I can't see any benefit whatsoever in having Lance Franklin play football at any club.
Ablett's number one player...why would anyone try to get player number 2?
He's not even close to being the player Cameron is right now.
He cant even mark.
They're better off trading to get Fevola from Yarrawonga.
/big footy thinking

 

[sydney_hawka]

Simple answer - Because that's where Vlad wants him. He has his FINGERPRINT's all over this.

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

I find it absolutely amazing that people think he is over-rated, a hack and not good enough to play at GWS. This guy would walk into any team in the AFL, any team, without a doubt in the world. He's shown this year he can play well when not the sole focus up forward, still managing to kick the 5th or 6th most goals in the comp this season.

This guy will do very well at GWS, as his work rate around the ground will ensure he does well. Yes, he has his shortcoming, no doubt, but the guy is comfortably in the best 5 players in the competition. He'll be a great pick up for GWS. He'll actually create interest in the club both in Sydney and also here in Melbourne. I mean seriously, no one in Melbourne gives a stuff about GWS, but I guarantee you they'll be getting a fair bit of airplay down here very very soon.

 

[Engimal]

I find it absolutely amazing that people think he is over-rated, a hack and not good enough to play at GWS. This guy would walk into any team in the AFL, any team, without a doubt in the world. He's shown this year he can play well when not the sole focus up forward, still managing to kick the 5th or 6th most goals in the comp this season.

This guy will do very well at GWS, as his work rate around the ground will ensure he does well. Yes, he has his shortcoming, no doubt, but the guy is comfortably in the best 5 players in the competition. He'll be a great pick up for GWS. He'll actually create interest in the club both in Sydney and also here in Melbourne. I mean seriously, no one in Melbourne gives a stuff about GWS, but I guarantee you they'll be getting a fair bit of airplay down here very very soon.

Unless they already have a decoy forward.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Simple answer - Because that's where Vlad wants him. He has his FINGERPRINT's all over this.

Just like he has his fingerprints all over Hawthorn's 2013 premiership.

"What's that, Buddy? You won't leave unless you win another cup with Hawthorn? Well, I guess we'll have to just make sure that happens, then, won't we?"

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

Unless they already have a decoy forward.

Helped us win the flag. for apparently just a selfish footballer, he played an incredibly selfless role this year

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

Franklin is the best marketing tool in the AFL, so naturally it makes sense to rip him away from a premiership team in the heart of Melbourne and send him to Blacktown where nobody will give a shit about him in the hope that GWS improve their crowds from 6,000 to 10,000.

 

[final fight]

Is Franklin a marketing tool? He hates that shit. GWS will be blowing good AFL money on him but good luck to him. If you have crazy people begging you to take insane amounts of money I say take it!

 

[Engimal]

Helped us win the flag. for apparently just a selfish footballer, he played an incredibly selfless role this year

I've never considered him selfish. I think it's odd to call any big forward selfish because kicking goals is just what they do.

 

[HirdyLannister]

It doesn't matter. Franklin still sells more merchandise than any other player.

Don't know about that, I see plenty of people with necklaces with Jesus related images on them.

 

[Hawk Dork]

There just isnt anymore Scullys around

 

[happy punter]

Franklin will be a flop for GWS. He'll just become another player. There's a guy playing for the Roosters in the nrl gf, a winger. Athletically matches or is superior to Franklin. I forgot his name but he's a machine.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

 

[JoondalupJ]

H

This absolutely mystifies me. Why would GWS throw millions at Franklin?

1/ They already have Cameron and Patton, all I can see is a crowded forward line. Surely the arrival of Franklin will undermine the development of these players.

2/ GWS have first go at Tom Boyd, a key forward who has massive wraps on him in the draft. Are we going to see the ridiculous situation where one of Franklin, Cameron, Boyd or Patton do not get game time? Obviously GWS must be thinking of trading one for another big fish but getting rid of one of these young talents is playing a dangerous game which could haunt them for many years

3 Why would GWS risk bringing in a player who could have a potentially negative impact on influencing young players off field.

4/ Franklin is past his peak. He has not reproduced what he did so spectacularly a few years ago for several seasons now.

5/ Throw millions at a young player of the Nat Fyfe mould if you like but Franklin? - I just don't get it.

Happy to be educated on this.

He's going to wear a sandwich board with advertising GWS on it.They'll pay him a fortune and all the west Sydney people won't know who the hell he is.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Purely for marketing and publicity. Agree looking at what they already have (and will have access to in the draft at #1) on field he is unnecessary.

 

[walhawk]

It doesn't matter. Franklin still sells more merchandise than any other player.

Yes, because he is at a top club with 64K members. Isn't Cyril also in the top 3? That tells you as much about Hawk supporters as it does about Buddy.
Do you really thing anyone in Western Sydney has heard of him?
I bet the average poster from Melbourne on here cannot name me five top Sydney based NRL players?