IF his behaviour inside the Emirates marquee on Oaks Day is anything to go by, AFL superstar Buddy Franklin will seriously test the Sydney Swans' strict no-d...head policy next year.

Two Sydney guests who spent much of Thursday afternoon in Franklin's company described him as 'an ego out of control' with little respect for others.

In a conversation about moving to Sydney, he bagged rugby league and, when asked about Sonny Bill Williams, the reply was "Sonny Who?"

Apparently he was also disrespectful towards former Wallaby captain Phil Waugh, who was also a guest in the marquee.

I checked with several AFL contacts in Melbourne to find out if Franklin is often a bit loose and had history of behaving like a lair.

"It can happen when he's away from the organised environment of a football club," said one source.

Earlier this year Franklin was forced to apologise to a Melbourne woman he verbally abused in an incident at a nightclub.

And in March, he was accused of being drunk and stumbling around a corporate suite at the grand prix.

Hawthorn chief Stuart Fox said at the time: ''We've had an honest conversation with him regarding how he should carry himself in public.

''We've told him to be more aware of his behaviour.''

My two contacts inside the marquee could not believe some of the things they were hearing.

"He's just up himself," said one of them, "he'd had a few to drink and maybe it was just that.

"He's in for a rude shock when he gets to Sydney if that's the way he normally carries on."

Franklin was probably the most photographed celebrity over the Flemington carnival, alongside his stunning model girlfriend Jesinta Campbell on Derby Day, Kate Upton on Cup Day and then back with Jesinta on Oaks Day.

The Swans are aware - but not overly concerned - about Franklin's colourful reputation.

"Guys like this come along once in a generation and we think we have a pretty good record of curbing guys' excessive social behaviour," said former chairman Richard Colless said.

THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

THE NRL is splashing out on a lavish getaway for 10 staff members and more than 50 sponsors in North Queensland this week.

Around 70 guests will stay at a luxury resort for three nights in Palm Cove, north of Cairns.

Dave Smith, Todd Greenberg, Paul Kind, Jim Doyle, Shane Mattiske and NRL sponsorship staff will all be attending.

It's been described by NRL management as a conference/workshop gathering to review 2013 and look at opportunities for next season.

Why it couldn't be held closer to home for far less expense at somewhere like Coogee, Panthers, Wollongong, Terrigal or the Hunter Valley is not known.

We can't imagine there will be much change from $100,000.

GAI'S LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK:

NO wonder Gai Waterhouse lives in Mosman with sweeping harbour views.

Tuesday's Melbourne Cup victory took her career prize money to a staggering $196,965,856.00.

That's from 17,305 starters, 3321 winners, 2409 2nd placegetters and 2036 that ran 3rd.

A pretty fair effort over 21 years of horse training.

BUT TOM'S HIT WHERE IT HURTS

TOM Waterhouse says Tuesday at Flemington was one of the greatest days of his life, at least from a family sense.

Not so for the bookmaking business.

"We got stripped out on the day - it was one of our worst of the year," said Waterhouse PR man Warren Hebard.

The bookmaker bet as much as $7.50 (best fluctuation) on his mum's horse Fiorente and lost a fortune in a promotion to pay out on the first five placegetters.

Still, we think he'll be okay to pay the mortgage and get week's groceries.

GURR BACK ON THE RADAR FOR NRL

AT a time when NRL boss Dave Smith is crying out for stronger management at the 16 clubs, one of the best operators in the business, former Roosters forward Bernie Gurr, is on his way home after a decade in the United States.

He's a financial whiz and rugby league is in his blood. He would make an outstanding chief executive.

HOLGER'S MAN FALLS ON SWORD:

MARK Schwarzer's shock retirement this week is obviously linked to the sacking of Holger Osieck after the Socceroos' 6-0 thrashing in Paris last month.

Under Osieck, Schwarzer was the first player picked, never missed a game and never let the coach down.

His goalkeeper understudies never got a look in. The Aussie keeper of German heritage enjoyed a close relationship with Holger, often conversing in German in team camps.

There was no doubt Schwarzer would go to Brazil as first pick if Osieck held his job, but his iron grip on the no. 1 shirt was shaken when Osieck was punted by FFA boss David Gallop.

Being stuck on the bench at Chelsea left Schwarzer with an uncertain future anyway and the arrival of the new coach Ange Postecoglou meant the 41-year-old keeper was suddenly facing the challenge from a number of young guns.

In particular, Matt Ryan's stunning form for Club Brugge in Belgium put the heat on Schwarzer.

In the end, he made the dignified decision to quit, even though Postecoglou picked him in his first squad, but it's clear Osieck's sacking forced his hand.

BOSS TO TOUCH BASE IN MARCH:

THE hype is so big around Sydney hosting a Major-league Baseball game at the SCG next March that their commissioner Bud Selig is coming out.

The MLB season opener, between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks, has already sold out and is expected to attract a global television audience of 160 million viewers.

SYDNEY UNI BACK IN THE BIG LEAGUE:

One of rugby league's most famous old clubs is making a comeback next year.

Sydney University entered the competition in 1920 - the same year as the St George Dragons.

At a meeting last week it was decided to reform the club and push for re-entry to the NSW Second Division competition.

SUNDAY SESSION:

SAINT

Australia's Sportswoman-of-the-year will again come from the horse racing ranks. Not Black Caviar this time, but surely Gai Waterhouse deserves it for winning the Melbourne Cup.

SINNER

Shane Warne's attack on Ricky Ponting was both predictable and pathetic. Fancy Warne, of all people, bagging someone else for expressing an opinion.

SPOTTED

Former Bulldogs premiership winning player and coach Steve Folkes working the aisles of Woolworths Caringbah, buying disposable nappies among other things for his first grandchild.

SPOTTED

Footy Show comedian and Sharks winger Beau Ryan checking into St George Private Hospital for off-season shoulder surgery.

HEADER

You've got to feel for the executive chauffer driver who dropped into his local TAB on Tuesday to whack $50 on Fiorente, left his glasses at home … then backed the wrong horse.

HEADER

The hype around the Socceroos instantly changed the moment Ange Postecoglou took the job. A savvy communicator, Ange has fronted a TV commercial, written in open letter to 500,000 members of the football family and done an stack of media interviews. Ticket sales for Ange's debut game against Costa Rica at Allianz Stadium on 19 November are bouncing along as a result.

SHOOSH

Which NRL chief executive will be flat out surviving in his job to the start of next season, or even Christmas. He is unpopular with the players, coach and board members.

SHOOSH II

Which wealthy NRL club official has thrown his financial clout behind the rescheduled Anthony Mundine-Shane Mosley fight.