MARKED MAN: Lance Franklin is set to spark interest from rival clubs as a potential restricted free agent next off-season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
FREMANTLE has denied it is already amassing a war chest aimed at luring Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin through free agency at the end of next season.
Dockers CEO Steve Rosich left the door open to joining what is expected to be a frenzied fight for Franklin's services if he delays signing a contract extension with the Hawks.
Franklin, 25, becomes a restricted free agent at the end of next season.
Hawthorn hopes he will sign an extension as early as possible to avoid a Travis Cloke-style contract saga, potentially providing a distraction next season, but the club is yet to reach an agreement with the WA product, who is arguably the most marketable player in the AFL.
Franklin, who enjoys the Melbourne lifestyle, said he hoped to be a one-club player, but the longer this draws out, the more speculation will mount over his future.
Rosich said Fremantle could not formulate any plans for next season's free-agency period until the upcoming drafts were completed.
"Once we go through the national draft and the pre-season draft and I think there's a possibility we could be have a live pick there - then you start to reassess and address your strategy for 2013," Rosich said.
"This would include free agency and potentially looking at experienced players, maybe former West Australian players and key position players.
"But there's a lot of things to be done and executed prior to that and they clearly impact our ultimate strategy."
Earlier this year, Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said the biggest stars in the AFL were worth $1.5m a season and that he would be prepared to offer the massive figure to lure Franklin to the Dockers.
Commenting on reports Greater Western Sydney were preparing a war chest to prise Cloke from Collingwood, Lyon said he believed the figure was realistic for select players.
"I'll tell you what, I'd give Buddy Franklin $1.5m tomorrow," a lighthearted Lyon said in Esperance during Fremantle's community camp in February.
West Coast's ability to make a genuine bid to bring Franklin home may depend on the playing futures of champion veterans Darren Glass and Dean Cox.
Glass and Cox are both out of contract at the end of next season and are among the Eagles' highest-paid players, so their retirements would free up space in the salary cap.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
We're not chasing Buddy yet, says Freo
Dengan url
http://burungdadara.blogspot.com/2012/11/were-not-chasing-buddy-yet-says-freo.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
We're not chasing Buddy yet, says Freo
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
We're not chasing Buddy yet, says Freo
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar