AFL great Dermott Brereton says if Sydney recruit Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin it will put the Swans’ hopes of top-four finishes under strain and it would be an irresponsible move.
The league’s bottom side Greater Western Sydney on Tuesday pulled out of the running for the star forward on the understanding Franklin was preparing to accept an offer from the Swans.
Brereton says if Franklin goes to the Swans for a reported $7 million over five years, it begs the question what will the other players be earning?
“If the Swans are a competitor (for Franklin), it makes me a little bit happy,” GWS forwards coach Brereton told Fox Sports News on Tuesday.
“I think it’s actually an irresponsible decision towards the Swans.
“If you’ve got (ex-Adelaide key forward) Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin both in the same team taking up 25 per cent of your salary cap, you’ve only 75 per cent to pay the 36 other players.
“I can’t see how you can maintain and keep the list in shape to make it to the top four year in and year out.”
Brereton, who played in five premiership sides at Hawthorn before joining the Swans as a superstar key forward in the 1990s, says the change of scenery would appeal to Franklin.
“I know for Lance, it’s tough living in Melbourne,” Brereton said.
“It seems to me he wants to probably get a bit of respite, a bit of relief, get into another environment (where) he is not the number one visual person that is focused on by the media.
“You’ve got rugby league up there, you’ve got rugby union, you’ve got the Swans, GWS.
“So there are some other characters up there who can get equal coverage by the media. So it lightens the load on that.”