Still reaping the benefits of Gary Ablett’s signing three years after the announcement, Gold Coast Suns boss Travis Auld knows what Lance Franklin’s snubbing cost Greater Western Sydney.
But the Suns CEO says AFL clubs have no right to whinge about Sydney’s cost-of-living allowance after the Swans lured Franklin with a staggering nine-year, $10 million deal.
Barely a week after Ablett claimed his second Brownlow Medal, Auld again toasted the AFL superstar as the Suns celebrated a new five-year Virgin Australia sponsorship deal.
Auld said Ablett had exceeded expectations on and off the field as their poster boy and didn’t expect that trend to change with the Suns already tipped to make the 2014 finals.
While predicting fellow expansion side GWS would have enjoyed similar spoils from Franklin’s defection, Auld said clubs could not be critical of Sydney.
The league is investigating Franklin’s proposed Sydney move after Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and Carlton coach Mick Malthouse lashed out at the Swans’ cost-of-living allowance.
But Auld told AAP on Wednesday: “The concessions the Swans have got have been around a long time.
“There’s been no suggestion they have not played within those rules, they just have a different set of rules than everyone else.
“You can’t be critical of the Swans if they have operated in the rules they have been given.”
Still, Auld could empathise with the Giants over missing out on Franklin after savouring Ablett’s Midas touch on the tourist strip.
“If you were to list the club’s most successful strategies, Gary would be in the top five,” he said.
“That doesn’t happen much. Rarely you build organisations around individuals.
“Having been through the experience I know it is very difficult to get experienced players to leave their footy club – money alone doesn’t do that.
“That’s a strength of the competition – players love the clubs they are in, they have good cultures.
“I have no doubt the Giants are working really hard to do that.
“But we have been fortunate to bring Gary in. That is why we are in the position we are in today.”
After admitting the Suns “went backwards” in 2012, Auld was pleased they had improved from three to eight wins this year but claimed making the finals next season was a “bigger step”.
But Auld hoped Ablett – who has two years left on his existing contract – would be rewarded with a premiership sooner rather than later at the Suns.
“To win the Brownlow in a team that finished 14th is incredible,” Auld said.
“Gary is the first one to admit he has benefited from the growth of the younger players around him.
“But one day I hope he is repaid by us being successful in September.”