Jesinta Franklin's eye-opening admission amid Buddy contract dramas
Jesinta Franklin has spoken out amid reports her husband Buddy is unhappy with a new contract offer from the Sydney Swans and could split with the club.
Franklin and the Swans are yet to come to an agreement on a new contract that would extend his time at Sydney into a 10th season.
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The prolific goal-scorer signed a monster nine-year deal to move to Sydney ahead of the 2014 season following a glittering 182-game career with Hawthorn.
The 35-year-old was reportedly insulted by a 'lowball' offer from the Swans recently, with a Herald Sun report claiming Franklin could retire or move to a third club.
Addressing the issue on Thursday, Franklin's wife Jesinta didn't deny the details and said they have 'options' if they want to leave Sydney.
“There’s always rumours and speculation swirling around Bud, and I think when he’s coming to the end of such an amazing contract, this was always going to happen,” she said on Channel 7.
“But I think they’re just that; they’re rumours and they’re speculation.
“We’re really happy in Sydney – at the moment – and we’ve got our life set up here, so we’ll just have to see what happens.
“I still feel like he’s got lots to give, and he still feels like he’s got great footy (left in him), and he feels so good.
“He keeps saying, ‘I feel like I’m 21,’ which is great. And the stats really show that as well.”
Franklin and his manager Adam Finch are yet to respond to the story.
He is reportedly seeking a new deal worth $700,000 but was surprised when the Swans only offered $500,000.
Sydney Swans boss addresses Buddy Franklin situation
Speaking on Thursday, Swans chief executive Tom Harley said he is confident a new contract will be sorted, saying the club wants Franklin to finish his career in Sydney.
"I sit very comfortable with the conversations that we are having with Lance and the privacy of those conservations," Harley told SEN radio.
"We also understand at the same time that people will speculate, people will look to unearth stories out of information and I'm not overly concerned with how it (the story) came about.
"Lance is a unique figure and player in the game and with that the conversations are tailored towards that.
"Inappropriate and unfair to all parties involved to go into specifics.
"The conversations we're having with Lance are remaining respectful with significant amounts of goodwill, great intent.
"We think Lance has been an amazing contributor to the club, the code and has become iconically Sydney and part of the Sydney Swans family."
Harley also shut down any link between Dustin Martin potentially leaving Richmond and Franklin's contract situation.
Martin, arguably the Tigers' greatest player, has been weighing up a move away from the AFL fishbowl in Melbourne and has strong family and friendship ties in Sydney.
Franklin has been the Swans' highest-paid player for almost a decade and it would naturally be difficult to fit him and Martin into the same salary cap.
"There's absolutely no link between these two stories, these two players," Harley said.
"We have had no contact nor conversations with Dustin Martin, he's not our player and it would be inappropriate for us to do that.
"I am a little bewildered by how the story around Dustin keeps resurfacing and resurfacing with a strong connection to the Swans."
with AAP
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