Brisbane Lions coach speaks out amid Buddy Franklin reports

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has attempted to play down his club's links to Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, amid reports the Sydney Swans superstar is eyeing a move up north to Queensland at the end of the season.

Channel 9 reported on Thursday night that Franklin wants to continue his career in Brisbane, with his nine-year contract at the Swans coming to an end this year.

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Responding to the Buddy bombshell on Thursday night, Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley said reports of the club's star player moving on after the season were "news to me".

The story has quickly become one of the biggest talking points in the AFL, with Buddy's wife Jesinta understood to be keen on a move sop they're closer to family on the Gold Coast.

Fagan - who knows Franklin well from his time at Hawthorn as an assistant coach - says news of him planning a move to Queensland took him by surprise.

The Lions coach says when he first heard about the reports, his first assumption was that the move would coincide with Buddy's AFL retirement.

"I would have thought if they are moving to Queensland, then that's perhaps an indication that Bud's going to retire from AFL football," Fagan said.

"That's sort of how I read it.

"If it came to pass down the track that they do move here and then someone reaches out from his camp and suggests that he still wants to play, then we'd be remiss as a footy club not to go and have a conversation with him.

"But we're not the only club in Queensland, there's the Gold Coast Suns as well."

Nine News Queensland reporter Michael Atkinson said he “can confirm the Brisbane Lions are the frontrunner to be his club next year".

The report goes on to suggest that Franklin is keen to add another AFL premiership to his collection and views the Lions as the likeliest destination in Queensland to achieve that.

Franklin, who kicked his 1000th career goal earlier this year, would join an already-imposing forward line at the Lions if he did sign.

While Dan McStay is expected to leave the club at the end of the season with Collingwood tipped as a destination, Brisbane would still boast the talents of Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron.

Fagan however was quick to hose down any suggestion he had already discussed the situation with Franklin.

"I've not had one conversation with Bud, my latest communication with him was a text message I sent to him when he kicked his thousandth goal, which is four months ago," Fagan said.

"I don't know what will play out in the future but as I said, the way I see it right now, if he's moving to Queensland to live, I would suggest that he's going to retire."

Whatever plays out with Franklin, Fagan said there was no doubt the two-time premiership player and four-time Coleman Medallist would be a valuable asset despite his advancing years.

"I think every football club in the country would be keen to get Buddy Franklin to their footy club if that was a possibility," Fagan said.

"Based on his form this year, he's played some pretty good football, but that really all depends on him and what he wants to do and what he wants to get out of his football career.

"Right now if he put a full stop on it, what a brilliant career. One of the greatest of all time."

Swans and Buddy Franklin yet to agree on new contract

Franklin and the Swans are yet to come to an agreement on a new contract that would extend his time in Sydney into a 10th season.

The 35-year-old was reportedly insulted by a 'lowball' offer from the Swans last month, before wife Jesinta said they have 'options' if they want to leave Sydney.

Franklin is reportedly seeking a new deal worth $700,000 but was surprised when the Swans only offered him $500,000.

Harley previously said he is confident a new contract will be sorted.

"I sit very comfortable with the conversations that we are having with Lance and the privacy of those conservations," he said last month.

"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."

with AAP

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