Hawthorn say two-time AFL premiership player Lance Franklin’s move to Sydney opens up exciting recruiting possibilities for them.

And chief executive Stuart Fox says while the Hawks wanted to keep him, their decision not to match the Swans’ nine-year, $10 million offer for the free agent was about putting the club first.

“We have always been guided by an established list management strategy that puts the needs and interests of the club first,” Fox said in an open letter to Hawks supporters and members.

“Today we applied that approach as the club decided against matching an offer from the Sydney Swans to restricted free agent Lance Franklin.

“In this landscape of free agency, we think this presents an exciting opportunity for the club to be an active player in the trade and free agency period now and in the future.”

Fox said the same club-first approach behind their decision to let Franklin go was what had given them success.

“Our club has been, and always will be, about the collective,” he said.

“It was what helped us achieve the 2013 premiership, and it will be what wins us our twelfth premiership when we are fortunate enough to salute again.”

Fox said the two-time Coleman Medallist and 2008 best and fairest had been an important part of the Hawks’ recent success and would always be welcome at Hawthorn past player functions.