FIVE potential landing spots for Lance Franklin

Lance Franklin's bombshell development over his playing contract beyond this season has left his future somewhat uncertain.

Having been offered $500,000 to stay at the Swans beyond 2022, Franklin is wanting between $700,000 and $800,000 to play on next season, threatening retirement or a move to a third club if Sydney do not upgrade their offer.

Lance Franklin's famous nine-year, $10 million deal expires at the end of this season.

Zero Hanger takes a look at five potential landing spots for the Swans superstar if he were to depart the Harbour city.

Collingwood Magpies

The Magpies' forward line is desperately devoid of a key forward, although the side has been able to make do to good effect with Brody Mihocek and Oliver Henry this season.

As such, they have been linked to luring Daniel McStay from the Lions on a mid to long-term deal. It is understood McStay could join Collingwood on a five-year deal worth up to $600,000 a season.

The club also withdrew a $3.2 million contract offer for mid-forward Jordan De Goey, with talks to be restarted at season's end.

If either deal were to not eventuate, the Pies could have some wiggle room to accommodate Franklin's financial needs on a shorter deal.

Fremantle Dockers

Fremantle are also crying out for a key forward, or at the very least some players to add to their tall stocks. While Rory Lobb and Matt Taberner have been solid talls up forward, Lobb is in negotiations for yet another trade, while Taberner has been battling injuries, leaving the Dockers a little thin.

Superstar Demons ruckman Luke Jackson has been continually linked to a trade to Western Australia, with Fremantle potentially expected to fork out a fair stack of cash to facilitate it. However, if that deal doesn't go through, the club could be financially poised to pick up Franklin.

While Franklin, who is nearing his 36th birthday, won't offer the longevity that Jackson could, he could be the spark that Fremantle need to propel them over the line to flag (if they don't get up this season).

Franklin's wife Jesinta has previously stated the family would be willing to move interstate, with Franklin's family based in Western Australia.

Richmond Tigers

If there is any truth to Dustin Martin's journey north to Sydney, it would seemingly be more feasible in the absence of Franklin, from a salary cap perspective. The Sydney Swans need a marquee player.

Although, it must be noted that Sydney chief executive Tom Harley has emphatically denied that the Swans are stockpiling cash to lure Dustin Martin to the club on SEN.

At Richmond, tall forward Jack Riewoldt has previously accepted a few weeks ago that "at 33, I’ll be 34 at the end of this year, it only takes a poorer month of football to maybe lose a bit of love or maybe the club loses a bit of love in me and my direction changes". His retirement could open the door for Franklin at Tigerland.

The club is still significantly boosted by Tom Lynch and Noah Balta in their key forward stocks.

Further, after stepping down as captain last year, Trent Cotchin's retirement would not be too far away, while Shane Edwards and Kane Lambert could follow and leave the Tigers lighter in experienced heads and salary cap room - to be filled by Franklin.

Western Bulldogs

The Western Bulldogs' key forwards may seem plentiful, with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Josh Bruce, Aaron Naughton and Josh Schache, but having Franklin at the Kennel could allow them to manage their squad of talls better.

The Dogs have lacked some tall attack in recent time, which has obviously not been helped by Bruce's long-term injury-forced absence. They could do with another key defender, and Franklin's move could allow Naughton to shuffle into the backline when required.

Ugle-Hagan, taken Pick no.1 in the 2020 draft, has not exploded onto the scene as some would've expected, and Franklin would arguably be the absolute ideal mentor for the young prospect going forward.

Although, it is uncertain the Dogs will have room in their salary cap, with news that two big-name midfielders are expected to re-sign imminently.

Melbourne Demons

Luke Jackson's potential move to WA was always likely to have a domino effect on the competition, with the hypothetical scenarios now falling on Lance Franklin. If Jackson were to depart Melbourne, the Dees would arguably be in a better financial position to pick up Franklin and replenish their overall list of tall players.

Given Franklin would likely sign a one or two-year deal if he were to move to a third club, one could assume that he would move to a club that is in premiership contention in the near future.

Although, Melbourne already have a suite of adequate key forwards, including Tom McDonald, Sam Weideman, Ben Brown and Mitch Brown. They have also already thrown stacks of cash to Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver on long-term deals.