'Buddy' sticks to his guns on AFL talks - Sydney Morning Herald

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Hawthorn star Lance Franklin is unapologetic that his AFL future is now a massive issue that will hang over the club throughout the year.

The two-time Coleman Medallist acknowledges that his decision to postpone contract talks with until the end of the season had shocked the Hawks, but is confident it will not hurt their 2013 campaign.

Franklin, arguably the league's top player, becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the year.

He follows Chris Judd, Gary Ablett, Tom Scully and Travis Cloke as star players whose futures became the focus of media scrutiny through a season.

"I obviously love Hawthorn and they've been an absolutely great footy club for myself," he said.

"But it was my decision and it was something I wanted to do.

"I know there will be a lot of speculation about what I'm going to be doing at the end of the season."

Asked about his plans, Franklin replied: "at this stage, I want to stay at Hawthorn."

He later added: "I have no intentions of leaving the football club, but it is what it is," he said.

"I just want to play footy."

This is already a crucial year for the Hawks, who were upset by Sydney in last year's grand final.

Hawthorn remain premiership favourites, but are yet to fulfil the potential they showed by winning the 2008 flag.

"The footy club we have is very strong and we have some really good leaders," Franklin said.

"Our group is a whole is very tight.

"I have no real issues there - it's obviously going to be the media that's pumping it up more than ever."

Franklin also admits he caught the club off-guard with his decision.

"It's going to be a distraction and obviously the footy club is shocked that I didn't sign," he said.

"I don't get entangled in anyone else's contracts ... it's just something that's not talked about.

"We'll just look forward to playing footy and hopefully winning a premiership."

Franklin, who turned 26 last week, has played 161 games for the Hawks since his 2005 debut.

Franklin's manager Liam Pickering later said the key forward might change his mind on postponing the contract talks.

"He might turn around in a month and say 'mate let's just get this done,' but at the moment he's not saying that," Pickering told SEN.

"Hawthorn aren't sitting on their hands here, Hawthorn have put together a reasonable offer.

"They would prefer to do it now, and I get that."

Pickering also insisted he had not received any offers from rival clubs.