Whether you love or hate him, I don’t think I am going out on a limb in saying nobody divides opinion quite like Lance Franklin.
The two-time premiership star – and now former Hawk has long been the most talked about player in Football.
And his recent decision to accept a lucrative nine year, $10 million deal from Sydney, after months of speculation surrounding his impending free-agency has done little to shift the attention of AFL fans to other topics – especially given the manner in which his management is believed to have approached Sydney in the wake of its 2012 premiership win over Franklins former club.
While I believe the implementation of free-agency is one of the greatest decisions the league has made in decades, I must admit to being incredibly frustrated and annoyed by the terms of “Buddy’s” new contract.
And it is in no way because of the dollars he will earn or the length of the contract – but rather the team who has been able to offer him the contract because of salary cap concessions provided to the swans.
The often talked about cost of living allowance, which allows both teams located in Sydney an increased salary cap threshold of 9.8% effectively prices the rest of the league out of premium free agents – allowing the rich to get richer – while some of Victoria’s foundational teams languish at the foot of the leagues table on an annual basis.
After landing the pre-season’s big fish in Kurt Tippett after winning a premiership, the Swans then follow another successful season with the signing of the league’s most marketable player.
So while I understand and appreciate the need for growing the game outside of Victoria, I can’t help but feel bitter as a fan of a team which has no foreseeable future success, nor the money to exceed its cap to sign a player of Franklin’s calibre.
In saying all this I put my hand up in saying I am a huge advocate for free-agency. Being a fan of all sports worldwide, I see free agency as a real breakthrough for AFL players and clubs alike – but I can’t shake my bitterness and resentment towards the league for allowing one of the most successful teams of the last 15 years to have the ability to spend almost 10% more than its premiership rivals.
As a result of free-agency and a far more involved trade period, football departments will be scrutinised more than ever for their off-field processes, and free agent players will find themselves receiving potentially far more money than they worth, (see Mitch Clarke) and the analysis of the salary cap and the way it is managed by football departments will have far more bearing on the success of your club.
So in criticising the league for giving both the Swans and Greater Western Sydney extra cap room to then go and beat the heck out of my team on the field, please don’t misconceive the fact I actually love the contract offers we are going to see as a result of free agency.
For example, if my club was to come out tomorrow and steal Dale Thomas with an offer of eight years and $5.5 million for example – I would be delighted – big contracts and the management of such deals, will add a whole new level to the league in salary cap management at an administrative level.
The only problem is this ridiculous cap allowance provided to just two teams skewing a league which has for over a decade prided itself on “equality.”
The draft and salary cap were implemented to create a level playing field, at this moment there is a team able to compete at the top while using a cap allowance to also bring in the best free agents two seasons in a row.
The COLA must go to recreate that level playing field we all crave.
IT’S NOT BUDDY FAIR!!!
sportfromaroundtheglobe 
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