Lance Franklin in his new colours at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: Philip Hillyard / DailyTelegraph
HE LOOKED very happy and relaxed at his new home ground of Bondi Beach this week, but Lance Franklin has made a commitment to put premierships first and partying second.
The famed Bloods culture, in which individual glory is sacrificed for team success, could been seen as a challenge for the free-spirited and freewheeling Franklin, but he's keen to buy in to the demanding code.
"I've heard so much about Bloods culture I can't wait to be a part of it," Franklin said.
Franklin has also read the jokes declaring the Swans' famous "no dickheads" policy has been amended to make allowance for him, but he's come across similar reports before in his time at Hawthorn.
"I've had that since I was a young guy, there has always been speculation about the person I am," Franklin said.
"I find some people's comments about me pretty funny because at the end of the day I just like playing football.
"But as long as the people at the football club know exactly what I'm doing, and the people that are close to me know I'm training hard and playing the best football I can, there isn't much I can do about it.
"Whatever is written is written I can't do much about it, that's the way I look at it."
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The man who has most to lose is Swans CEO Andrew Ireland, who has taken a huge leap of faith signing 26-year-old Franklin to an incredible nine-year deal.
The contract is the longest since he signed Alastair Lynch to the Brisbane Lions in the mid-1990s.
"I haven't found a malingerer who gets a contract and thinks, 'Now that I've got it I won't work hard'," Ireland said.
"I don't expect that with Buddy."
While Ireland is confident Buddy will step up to the challenge of fitting into the Swans brand of behaviour, it will be his actions on the football ground which win the respect of his new teammates.
Sydney's leadership group lead by Jarrad McVeigh, Kieren Jack and Adam Goodes are known to be harsh judges.
"I'm looking forward to setting good standards around the footy club," Franklin said
"I'm up here to play football that's what I'm paid to do and that's what I'm here for.
"At the end of the day I just love playing football, that's what I do.
"I've come here to do nothing else but win premierships."
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If Franklin does help the Swans to a flag or two, he will join a host of others who have made the switch to Sydney and enjoyed the ultimate success.
Last year's premiership team had no less than six players (Rhyce Shaw, Ted Richards, Marty Mattner, Shane Mumford, Josh Kennedy and Mitch Morton) from other AFL clubs.
The 2005 team also had six players who made the switch and won flags (Craig Bolton, Paul Williams, Nick Davis, Darren Jolly, Barry Hall and Jason Ball)
"I'm looking forward to a change of scenery, a change of football clubs and a change of coaches, John (Longmire) has been great so far," Franklin said.
"It's something I felt I wanted to do, I've got family I've got friends but most importantly I've got this football club now."
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