LANCE Franklin turned his back on a massive offer from Greater Western Sydney and signed a nine-year deal with the Sydney Swans instead because he wants more success "straight away".
The two-time Hawthorn premiership player was officially unveiled as a Swan when he fronted a press conference alongside his new coach John Longmire at the SCG on Wednesday morning.
And 'Buddy' made it clear why he now finds himself wearing red and white.
"I spoke to Leon (Giants coach Leon Cameron) during the season," Franklin said.
"He's been a good friend of mine. He was one of the assistant coaches, one of my forward line coaches, at Hawthorn for a couple of years.
"So I knew him very well and we'd spoken during the season about me potentially coming up here to play for the GWS Giants.
"But, at the end of the day, I wanted to come to a club that was going to hopefully win more premierships.
"GWS are going to be great, no doubt, but I probably see that in four or five years time they're going to be good
"I want success pretty much straight away, so that's the reason why I chose Sydney."
Another key reason why Franklin chose the Swans was the chance to play alongside fellow indigenous superstar Adam Goodes.
"I remember lining up here in round one in my debut season and him coming to me and playing on me, and now I actually get the chance to play alongside 'Goodesy'," he said.
"It's something I'm looking forward to and I can't wait to get out there."
"What an exciting time it is for the footy club, the Sydney Swans.
"I'm looking forward to play some good football up here and can't wait for next season.
"It's been a big couple of weeks for myself and my family and my friends and especially my manager, but I'm really excited and pumped to get up here."
Melbourne 'fishbowl' no reason for Buddy's move
Franklin is confident that his decision to quit Hawthorn has not ended his friendship with Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson.
"I'm really close with him and his family," Franklin explained.
"When I told him I just shook his hand, looked him in the eye and told him I was going to move up to Sydney and play football for the Sydney Swans.
"Obviously he was a little bit shocked, as were a lot of people, but at the end of the day he shook my hand and said, 'Good luck with everything. All the best.'
"I couldn't speak highly enough of 'Clarko' or the Hawthorn Football Club or the boys that I played football with."
As for whether he's serious about playing footy until the age of 35, which is how old he will be when his new contract finally expires, Franklin said: "I love playing my football.
"I love getting out there, I love training. I can definitely see myself playing until that age."
Franklin's role in the Swans' team will become clearer over the summer.
"I think we've got an opportunity to be flexible and adaptable and really mobile in our front half," Longmire said.
"There's no doubt that the level of talent that Lance has got coming into the team gives us the opportunity to be really versatile.
"Obviously Lance has got a true track record in kicking goals. He's kicked 600-odd goals.
"So to be able to play him in our front half, whether it's here at the SCG or at ANZ Stadium, it's going to be exciting for all the players that play alongside him."
