Sydney CEO Tom Harley says the club did not attempt to persuade Lance Franklin to play on beyond 2023.
On Monday the 36-year-old announced his retirement, effective immediately, ending a remarkable 19-year career of 354 games and 1066 goals.
‘Buddy’ had injured his calf against Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night, his final act as a player, before coming to the conclusion that that would be it.
Having played just 10 games in 2019, missing all of 2020 and part of the early stages of the 2023 season due to various soft tissue injuries, the time had come for Franklin to call time.
Harley insists the former Hawthorn star had made up his mind after it became apparent that his calf issue was likely to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.
Asked on SEN Breakfast if the Swans tried to talk him around, Harley replied: “No.”
“One thing I do know about Lance is when he’s locked in on something, and everyone gets to see when he’s locked in on the game and how much he can impose himself like that, it’s the same with anything.
“He was locked in and it was very much a one-way conversation. We absolutely understand that.
“I think when you get to that stage of your career and you spend a bit of time in rehab and the prospect of doing another significant stint in rehab, that was enough for him.
“It was a one-way conversation.”
Franklin did not attend the press conference to mark his retirement, instead sending Harley and head coach John Longmire.
It was a situation that doesn’t sit comfortably with the eight-time All-Australian and four-time Coleman Medallist who preferred to inform his teammates rather than address the media.
“We spoke about how it would all play out and he and (wife) Jesinta were really clear on how they wanted that to all play out,” Harley added.
“We were obviously extremely supportive. We know him as well as anyone.
“He’s just uncomfortable doing that and I think we all need to respect it. To be fair everyone did.
“The most important thing for him was to talk to the teammates which he did at midday yesterday and he did it really well. That was the big thing for him.
“He’ll talk at the right time and I’m sure we’ll all get a chance to hear from him and celebrate him in the next couple of weeks and months.
“For now, he’s having some downtime with his family and we’ll touch base over the next week or so and work out what the rest looks like.”
Harley says the club will work with Franklin to organise a farewell once the dust settles given he won’t be afforded a send-off game due to his calf injury.
Franklin exits the game as the fourth highest goal kicker in V/AFL history and one of only six players to kick 1000 or more goals.
