Almost 18 months before Lance \u2018Buddy\u2019 Franklin\u2019s bombshell move to Sydney in October of 2013, the groundwork was already being laid behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
Newly revealed text messages to Fox Footy\u2019s Midweek Tackle have shed fresh light on just how early the Swans began pursuing the superstar forward, and how eager Franklin was to make the move.<\/p>\n
Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n At the centre of the recruitment push were head coach John Longmire, Buddy\u2019s manager Liam Pickering, and Sydney General Manager Andrew Ireland.<\/p>\n \u201cIt started a lot earlier than any of us thought … and I can say this because John\u2019s going to be on AFL 360 Wednesday night, (when) he\u2019ll launch his book,\u201d senior Herald Sun journalist Glenn McFarlane said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe go back to May 2012 \u2014 that\u2019s (nearly) 18 months before Buddy\u2019s big move, and it just shows how long that the Swans had been into Buddy.<\/p>\n The first, dated May 9, 2012, read:<\/p>\n Liam Pickering: Hawks trying to extend Buddy now mate \u2014 he is not keen at the moment. Interested in Swans if u (sic) can speak to Andrew (Ireland) and come up with the right offer.<\/p>\n John Longmire: Will speak to Andrew (Ireland). Thanks.<\/p>\n Just over two months on, another exchange on July 19, 2012, suggested Franklin\u2019s desire to join Sydney had only strengthened.<\/p>\n JULY 19, 2012<\/p>\n Liam Pickering: Just spoke to Buddy then. You were right, I said he was 80\/20 going to the Swans … you said bullsh**! You were right … he just told me: \u2018Tell your mate Horse, I\u2019m 95 per cent going to the Swans … fair dinkum!<\/p>\n McFarlane then revealed perhaps the most fascinating exchange came in the days after Sydney\u2019s 2012 premiership, when the Swans were pursuing key forward Kurt Tippett.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Swans have just won it, and Kurt Tippett\u2019s name has come up \u2014 and Buddy is absolutely shattered when he hears the Swans are into Tippett … what an amazing set of text messages,\u201d McFarlane said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a very big challenge in itself to be able to get the salary cap space to allow that to happen.<\/p>\n DAYS AFTER 2012 GRAND FINAL<\/p>\n Liam Pickering: I\u2019ve just got a message from Bud; he has asked why you are going after (Kurt) Tippett?<\/p>\n John Longmire: Why is that?<\/p>\n Liam Pickering: He wants to come to Sydney.<\/p>\n Tippett ultimately joined the Swans before Franklin and played half a decade before retiring, 12 months before Franklin joined the Swans on what at the time was an unprecedented $10 million contract across nine years.<\/p>\n For most of 2013 in his year as a restricted free agent, the left-footed superstar was largely expected to join then-expansion club the GWS Giants.<\/p>\n Originally published as Stunning AFL texts reveal truth behind sensational $10 million switch<\/a><\/p>\n