Lance Franklin shocked the footy world when he signed with Sydney. Source: Supplied
MELBOURNE loves Melbourne.
Never was that more apparent than this week when the Sydney Swans pulled off the AFL coup of the century by signing superstar, Lance “Buddy” Franklin to a nine-year $10 million dollar deal.
The crowing from Bleak City since then has been loud, obnoxious and downright rude. That downtrodden mob in Emerald City, who have spent years building a club culture and a winning football team without much more than a snigger from Melbourne, had snuck in under everyone’s guard and signed their second superstar in consecutive years.
The bleating has centred around the alleged preferential treatment Sydney’s two teams receive in the form of a cost of living allowance from the AFL.
This means, they say, that the Swans are the only team who could possibly offer such a rich deal for Franklin without worrying about their salary cap restrictions.
Not surprisingly, the biggest bleak city brats, Collingwood’s Eddie McGuire and Carlton coach Mick Malthouse, were the first to call for a cancellation of the deal.
They were quite happy, I might add, to see Franklin off to the GWS Giants because they knew he’d be no threat there. Sticking a superstar in a losing team is fine. Putting him in a very winning one is another matter entirely.
Malthouse, McGuire, the Melbourne Media (it is an unofficial club) and other AFL presidents have vowed to stop the Swans from receiving another red cent from the AFL coffers.
They have of course conveniently overlooked the fact that the cost of living in Sydney is, in fact, at least 14 per cent above that of Melbourne. Lattes might be the same price (as The Age so earnestly pointed out), but try buying a house in Sydney or running a car.
Most of the young Sydney Swans rent homes or flats together. They simply cannot contemplate, like so many others of their age in one of the world’s most expensive cities, the prospect of home ownership.
All of that aside, let’s have a close look at what these Melbourne clubs have been handed over the last few seasons. Collingwood, Essendon, St Kilda and Richmond are all given guaranteed blockbuster games every season at either the MCG or Etihad in front of huge crowds. That revenue goes straight into club coffers.
Because of the high profile of games like the annual Anzac Day clash, sponsors are queuing up to jump on with more dollars. The millions coming out of Etihad and the MCG for the clubs are rivers of gold.
The Melbourne Demons and North Melbourne, basket cases by any other name, have been handed draft concessions and millions of dollars in cash handouts as part of the AFL’s “equalisation” policy.
Basically, if you lose often enough, and stuff up your management of head office, the AFL will rescue you if you live in Melbourne. Just last week, the Demons were handed another $1.4m because they are unable to win a match.
The Swans have held up their end of the bargain in a city that is not in love with AFL for more than two decades. Their own directors have had to bail them out at least once to the tune of millions of dollars.
The challenge to fill a stadium is a weekly one and rarely reached. Still, though, the Swans are the most winning football team in the AFL. Their strong club culture, coaching prowess and development of young players is second to none.
Even those who believe Buddy Franklin is a ratbag who cannot be managed may find that the Sydney Swans are the team who can get him under control.
Club insiders stress they have done their due diligence on Franklin. If he puts a foot out of line, the Bloods will take the law into their own hands. They did it with Tony Lockett and Barry Hall with huge success.
This has been a sweet week for Sydney - and every team outside the Victorian enclave – who have been bullied for too long. The club once seen as a perennial bridesmaid has played the Melbourne lot at their own game and won.
McGuire, Malthouse et al have been caught on the hop. The days of copping it on the chin from AFL headquarters have gone. A seismic shift in the power base took place this week and it is not a minute too soon.
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