Opinion Is Buddy's nine year contract finally coming back to haunt the Swans?

[GC2015]

33 years old with recurring hamstring injuries (a definitive sign of the body giving in). He missed half the season last year with a hamstring injury and it was only the second time in 17 years that Sydney had missed the finals. Big Bud still has two more years to run on his nine year contract after the 2020 season. The AFL have made it clear that regardless of a retirement announcement, the Swans will still have to pay the back-ended deal and it will count towards their salary cap in their intended respective years. Also, Sydney have not won a flag while Buddy has been a Swan.

So, is this infamous nine year contract finally coming back to haunt the Swans?

2014 - $700,000
2015 - $700,000
2016 - $1.2 million
2017 - $1.2 million
2018 - $1.2 million
2019 - $1.3 million
2020 - $1.4 million
2021 - $1.5 million
2022 - $1 million
Total - $10.3 million

 

[11kgm]

always was going to

 

[hawkman]

33 years old with recurring hamstring injuries (the old man's injury). He missed half the season last year with a hamstring injury and it was only the second time in 17 years that Sydney had missed the finals. Big Bud still has two more years to run on his nine year contract after the 2020 season. The AFL have made it clear that regardless of a retirement announcement, the Swans will still have to pay the back-ended deal and it will count towards their salary cap in their intended respective years. Also, Sydney have not won a flag while Buddy has been a Swan.

So, is this infamous nine year contract finally coming back to haunt the Swans?

Sydney don't have to pay Franklin his full contract but it is included in their salary cap. If there are salary cap cuts over the next couple of years it will be interesting to see how it impacts it

 

[Pessimistic]

As if buddy give a damn. He’s got what he wants

 

[ep2018]

Surely there's a get out clause of some kind, with a contract that stupidly long?

 

[Pessimistic]

Surely there's a get out clause of some kind, with a contract that stupidly long?

explains the push for ‘franchise players ‘ outside the cap. Siddy no problem shedding a few jobbers to pay for it

 

[Underarm]

Surely there's a get out clause of some kind, with a contract that stupidly long?

The full amount will count towards the Salary cap, that's where it will hurt the most.

 

[Stevi_Tigers]

Surely there's a get out clause of some kind, with a contract that stupidly long?

Afl was pissed with Sydney for picking him up so said he’d have to be paid out and money counted in the cap even if he retired. So they’re stuck with it

 

[TonaldDrump]

no

 

[Stevi_Tigers]

That’s the risk of long term big money deals really marketing and $ wise it’s a good deal for the swans.

Footy wise you’d have to look at it as a failure joined a team who had won a premiership and hasn’t helped them win another (bulldogs game and umpires withstanding)

Hindsight being what it is he probably should of joined the giants if he still leaves the hawks.

Richmond were also talked about that they could potentially regret martin’s big money deal but 2 premierships and norm smith’s as well as a brownlow obviously says otherwise

Was also mentioned about Tom lynch but again I guess it’s how much you count winning a premiership counts money wise.

Non Richmond or buddy wise Collingwood in a similar spot with Grundy which remains to be seen if it ends good or badly.

 

[Pessimistic]

‘Corona virus’ ‘unprecedented times’ blah blah

always knew they’d be let off

 

[Jaeger]

 

[Kappa]

Surely there's a get out clause of some kind, with a contract that stupidly long?

AFL made sure Sydney had no get out clause after they snatched him from GWS

 

[Kappa]

‘Corona virus’ ‘unprecedented times’ blah blah

always knew they’d be let off

Really was quite brilliant of the AFL to see the Corona virus coming towards the end of his contract to give them a way to save it.

 

[jsdsgn]

It will be all worth it when he comes back in round 17 and sews up 16th spot for the swans

 

[HairyO]

As if buddy give a damn. He’s got what he wants

Could have had 2 more flags, similar money, and a retirement at the time his body was ready to give up.

Compare Rough's farewell to the way its looking for Buddy.

 

[jsdsgn]

Could have had 2 more flags, similar money, and a retirement at the time his body was ready to give up.

Compare Rough's farewell to the way its looking for Buddy.

Buddy is still universally loved and if he can get fit hes got 2 years of 50 goal seasons. He deserves the 1000.
If he stayed at Hawks, he would get pushed out by Clarko like all the other legends.
At least he can play for as long as he wants, kick 1000 goals, get a guaranteed game when fit and have a good time with the young sydney blokes.

 

[GC2015]

For those who can't read writing that small:

2014 - $700,000
2015 - $700,000
2016 - $1.2 million
2017 - $1.2 million
2018 - $1.2 million
2019 - $1.3 million
2020 - $1.4 million
2021 - $1.5 million
2022 - $1 million
Total - $10.3 million

 

[WillHayward]

I always thought the calf was the old man's injury.

The bottom line is 2021 is a big problem. 1.5m for probably nothing.

That's 3 very good players.

Huge issue next year. No question.

 

[Engimal v3]

I genuinely think Sydney has got their money's worth so far. Maybe not a flag, but the exposure he's brought to them is great and he's still up there as one of the top KPFs in the comp. When fit, he always has an argument to the #1 spot.

The next 3 seasons will be interesting, with 40% of his contract still to be paid out. Franklin would be absolutely laughing though.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

If it really has come to a screeching halt then yeah, it’s a real problem. I think everybody kinda expected his last 1-2 years would be a bit of a write-off, but as it stands Sydney have only got 5 full seasons out of him. That’s well unders.

If he comes back for a couple more decent seasons then it’ll be salvaged.

 

[mike123]

Oh yes he’s costing them they’re premiership window right now...

 

[Belnakor]

I always thought the calf was the old man's injury.

The bottom line is 2021 is a big problem. 1.5m for probably nothing.

That's 3 very good players.

Huge issue next year. No question.

very good players get paid more than 500k

 

[HTT]

Probably, but they probably did the deal knowing something like this could happen. I'm also sure Sydney's pass mark for the deal doesn't just include premierships but also financial success, which I'm not familiar enough with to be the judge.
Silver lining is it will force them to have the cap space in a few years to be able to chase another gun, and by that stage some of their younger players will be flying. They are a very well run club, there's a reason they've barely missed finals in the last 20 years.

 

[Mofra]

It put the Swans all over the papers and got them to the big dance in 2016.
If having the best player of his generation on their list for 6 years cost them 9 years of salary (and no draft picks) - for everything he's brought the Swans, they just might do the deal again even with the value of hindsight.