Sydney superstar Lance Franklin admits it was a “50-50” call on whether he’d retire at season’s end or play on into a 19th season, but says he never considered playing for a third club.
And Franklin has fired a shot at critics that doubted him for signing a nine-year, $10 million deal with the Swans in 2013, declaring he’s “definitely proved them wrong”.
The Swans on Monday night announced Franklin, one of the greatest AFL players this century and the fifth-highest goalkicker in VFL/AFL history, had signed a one-year contract extension ahead of his sixth Grand Final.
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Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, Franklin said he “felt the timing was right” to announce his intentions early in Grand Final week as it ended any speculation around his footy future and ensured the external focus in the lead-up to the game was on his club and teammates.
Ample speculation surrounded Franklin this season, with reports he and his family were seriously considering relocating to Queensland. He was even linked to the Brisbane Lions.
But Franklin, who famously moved from Hawthorn to Sydney as a free agent after the 2013 season, insisted he never contemplated joining another club, saying his call came down solely to whether he’d retire or play on.
“Me and Jesinta and my family, we came to the decision we wanted to stay in Sydney. It was a long process to come to that decision,” Franklin told reporters.
“I wasn’t sure whether I was going to go on, but I’ve come to the decision that I’ve still got the passion and love the game. I’ve enjoyed every minute of this year, we’ve got such an exciting group here and to go on another year is just a no-brainer for me.
“It hasn’t been easy. I’ve been in the game for a long time, I’ve got a young family now, so it was a hard decision. But my passion for the game, my love for this football club, my heart is still here and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“I’m just so proud I get to go on for another year – that’s great – but my main focus is this week. It’s what we play football for is to play in Grand Finals and I get another opportunity this week to go out there and do what I love.”
Asked how close he was to retiring, Franklin said: “50-50 to be honest. But as the year went on and I spoke to the people that I care about, the decision was made clear that I needed to go on and there was unfinished business. Obviously we get the opportunity to win a Grand Final this week, but I feel like I’ve still got a little bit to give.”
Franklin later added: “I’ve still got that passion and drive to want to compete. Until that goes, that’s when I’ll finish up. It hasn’t gone at the moment, so I’m still pumped and ready to go for this weekend.”
A defiant Franklin said he was proud to not only see out the lucrative nine-year deal, but also add at least one more year to his Swans stint.
“There’s been a lot of knockers over the years, haven’t there?” he said.
“When I first got here, people were knocking that I wouldn’t get there, I wouldn’t make it, I would play for four or five years and that’d be it.
“I’ve definitely proved them wrong, haven’t I?”
Franklin has one of the most decorated CVs of the modern era: Two premierships, eight All-Australian blazers, four Coleman medals, a Hawthorn best and fairest and 12 club leading goalkicker trophies.
But Franklin has never won a premiership at Sydney. And while many pundits believe he’s already repaid the Swans’ investment in him, others believe Franklin needs to be part of a Sydney premiership team for the nine-year contract to be completely fulfilled.
Asked if he needed a flag to silence the doubters for good, Franklin said: “It would be nice. But it’s going to be a difficult job.
“Geelong have won 16 in a row, so they’re in some fantastic form. We’re playing some good football, so we’re just going to go down there, give it our all and see how we go.”
