Until Sydney wins a flag, it’s going to be the question the footy world will always ask and debate: Was the nine-year, $10 million contract the Swans offered Lance Franklin, ultimately, worth it?

You could be somewhat excused for revisiting the conundrum earlier this week when Sydney coach John Longmire suggested the club was unconcerned by Franklin’s New Year’s Eve knee setback, but uncertain over his recovery time frame.

Add that to his unlucky injury run over recent seasons – he struggled with a heel injury in 2018 then underwent groin surgery prior to the Swans’ 2019 campaign, in which he only played 10 games because of hamstring injuries – and the fact Sydney hasn’t won a flag since Franklin was sensationally traded from Hawthorn, you can understand why some might question the deal again.

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Round 18

But no matter how, when or why Franklin eventually leaves the game, Sydney’s bold acquisition is – and will always be – a win, according to triple All-Australian Nick Dal Santo.

During his Sydney stint, Franklin has won All-Australian selection four times, picked up two Coleman Medals and topped the club’s goalkicking in five consecutive seasons.

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Sydney's Lance Franklin has played 300 AFL games. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

And while the reasoning would be grander than just one player’s presence, the Swans’ annual membership numbers have increased every year from 2014 (40,126) to 2019 (61,912) while Franklin – one of the league’s most marketable players – has been on the list. Plus they’ve comfortably been the AFL’s most supported club for the past few years, according to the Roy Morgan AFL club supporters survey.

Yes they haven’t won a flag since 2012, but Dal Santo believes fans must always assess the Franklin-Swans contract with an asterisk.

“We judge everything on premierships, win or lose. But in my opinion, I see this as a different one. I see this as a win,” Dal Santo told foxfooty.com.au.

“He has done everything that he could physically do on the field. I know as a team they haven’t won (a flag), but over the past two decades, there’s not many – if any – better than him.

“How could anyone say ‘well, they didn’t win a flag, so therefore it’s a failure’? That means a lot of players in their careers were failures and did nothing in their careers, if that’s the sole reason we’re going to judge people on whether they won on Grand Final day or not.

“What he’s done for that football club on and off-field, if I was Sydney and had the option of doing the deal again, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Another way Franklin is repaying the Swans’ faith is through leadership – a trait that often hasn’t been linked to the superstar forward.

Franklin had never been part of a leadership group – either at Hawthorn or Sydney – in the 15 years he’d been in the AFL system. That changed in December, when the 33-year-old was added to the Swans’ 2020 leadership group alongside co-captains Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Dane Rampe, as well as fellow fresh face Callum Mills.

Sydney Swans’ 2020 leadership group: Luke Parker, Callum Mills, Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy and Dane Rampe. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

The five-man team was voted on by the playing group, meaning Franklin’s peers officially rewarded him for his unofficial leadership – particularly among the young forwards – over recent years.

Star Swans teammate Isaac Heeney has noticed a significant difference in Franklin’s approach around the club.

“The way he is contributing with his words and his knowledge has been incredible,” Heeney told foxfooty.com.au’s Josh Gabelich. “This year more than any, he has really spoken up more in meetings.”

That new-found confidence in meetings has been reflected in his on-track confidence.

Heeney claimed a trimmer Franklin was “flying” and in “unbelievable” condition – “we had five weeks before Christmas and I’ve never seen someone train like he did and I don’t think he has had a pre-season for quite a few years” – prior to the late-2019 knee setback.

A trimmer Lance Franklin returned to Sydney Swans pre-season training early. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

It’s that strong fitness base Franklin developed that has Heeney believing the 300-game forward can still have a huge impact in 2019.

“He doesn’t want to be sitting on the sidelines injured and watching us boys, so whatever he could do to get his body right, it felt like he did,” Heeney said.

“He was on a mission – but things happen, it’s footy. I’m sure he will come back and have a massive influence.”

Franklin, who turned 33 last month, is about to enter the seventh season of his nine-year deal.

How Franklin performs in these final three years will be one of the league’s biggest burning questions.

Despite the lengthy commitment and setbacks, Dal Santo believes Franklin’s resolve and class will give him a great chance of honouring his lengthy, yet worthwhile, deal until the end.

“I’m assuming he’s a competitor just by the longevity that he’s had and the way that he goes about his footy,” the former Saint and Roo said.

Lance Franklin mightn’t play Round 1 for Sydney. Source: News Corp Australia

“I don’t know what his mindset would be like in regards to seeing out those three seasons. Whether he’s like: ‘You know what, I’m going to give it what I’ve got this year and if it gets me to the finish line then it does. But if it doesn’t and my body breaks down, it’s been a really good journey and a good ride anyway.’

“But I still see competitiveness in him.”