Lance Franklin talks take a twist as he comes within three goals of Gary Ablett Snr milestone

Lance Franklin’s contract extension at the Sydney Swans is getting more complex as the star finds vintage form to move to within two goals of Gary Ablett Snr’s goal-kicking record

With rumours swirling that Richmond star Dustin Martin is seeking a seachange and could also end up at the Bloods, contract talks with Franklin and how much money the Swans can afford to retain him has been a hot topic.

The 35-year-old only needs two more goals to draw level with Ablett Snr [1031] who is fifth on the all-time list of AFL goal-scorers, behind Tony Lockett [1360], Gordon Coventry [1299], Jason Dunstall [1254] and Doug Wade [1057]. 

While Franklin’s radar was off, kicking two majors and five behinds, he was in vintage form in the Swans win over the Bulldogs.

Franklin also took five contested marks. The last time Franklin took more contested marks was in Round 22, 2014 which was also against the Bulldogs.  

Just two weeks ago pundit and former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd criticised Franklin’s form and questioned whether the Swans could persist with 199cm Franklin, 196cm Sam Reid and 196cm Logan McDonald in the same team.

‘How many times has three tall forwards worked in a side?’ he asked on Nine’s Footy Classified.

‘Buddy Franklin is an elephant in the room here with how (coach) John Longmire handles him for just this year, but going into next year. Does John Longmire want him moving forward?’

While there is plenty of interest from around the league for Franklin, it is understood he wants to remain in Sydney and the four-time premier has been working with the club on a one-year extension over the last few months.

While his new deal won’t be close to the historic nine-year, $10 million contract he signed in 2013, his current form and looming milestone will be complicating negotiations.

Meanwhile, veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson has confirmed that Martin could be joining Franklin at the Swans in 2023, which would have an impact on their salary cap as well.

‘I thought the talk about Sydney was a complete furphy. I’m now hearing that perhaps – it’s on. It’s certainly something that is being considered. Sydney have shown some interest,’ she said.

Lloyd said Martin leaving is ‘not the worst thing for Richmond’ and said the Swans would be rolling the dice on a big-money, lengthy deal to secure the Tigers’ star.

‘It’s a big risk for the Sydney Swans, to be honest … and he’d be going there on a three or four-year contract,’ he said.

The Swans are publicly downplaying the Martin speculation, with chief executive Tom Harley saying: ‘there has been no conversations with Dustin’.

“The level is interest is absolutely generated through media. I can unequivocally say there has been no conversations with Dustin and at the same time we appreciate the speculation,” Harley said on ABC Sport.

“But from our point of view we certainly don’t deal in hypotheticals and I can say there has been no conversations.”