What the superstar key forward hasn't revealed until now, however, is his surprise at the level of scrutiny he's faced at his new club and the toll it can take on himself and those around him.
Franklin is well and truly used to a regular invasion of his private life.
It has been with him virtually from the day he was drafted by Hawthorn nearly a decade ago and has only gathered pace as he emerged as one of the most talented and exciting prospects in the modern game.
But it has reached unprecedented heights in the Harbour City.
For this interview, Franklin starts off with some standard responses like he doesn't pay much attention to the media, it's something he can't control and his focus is on playing football.
But delve a little deeper and he starts to reveal some of the frustration he is already feeling during his short time as a Swan, which so far equals the grand total of one game.
Since switching clubs in October, some of the headlines have already included:
• "Decision to recruit Lance Franklin could erode 20 years of culture"
• "Buddy poisoning the Bloods" and
• "Buddy big headache for Longmire"
Perhaps the most confronting one occurred just this week when a tabloid newspaper went with: "Beach Buddy day for Lance Franklin, but where was his girlfriend?"
It related to a photo taken of Franklin at North Bondi Beach, where he spent time with teammates and some female friends while his partner Jesinta Campbell was on a work assignment, and appeared to understandably hit a nerve with the four-time All Australian.
Longmire plays straight bat to Buddy barrage
When asked to compare life in Sydney to what he experienced in Melbourne, Franklin gives an insight into his world when he says: "To be honest I haven't seen too much of Sydney.
"I look forward to seeing a bit more of it.
"I haven't really left my house and when I do, it's bloody tough at times, particularly when things are getting reported that aren't true or you're just trying to keep private and then they put stuff in the paper.
"It can become a bit annoying, but there's nothing you can really do about it."
Make no mistake, Franklin isn't looking for sympathy.
Many would happily put up with the increased attention he confronts if it meant also receiving his $10 million contract and various endorsement deals.
But a follow-up question about whether he feels some of the reporting crosses the line prompts Franklin to reveal a little more about the problems it can cause and his level of frustration.
"I just feel sorry for my partner at times," he said.
"Obviously having a girlfriend and then having stuff written in the paper about your private life can be difficult.
"I feel sorry for my partner and her family and my family too that I'm getting phone calls about issues that aren't even happening.
"It can be tough, but I'm not being a sook. It is what it is.
"There's nothing I can do about it, I just think the papers need to get over it."
When asked to compare life in Sydney to what he experienced in Melbourne, Franklin gives an insight into his world when he says: "To be honest I haven't seen too much of Sydney.
"I look forward to seeing a bit more of it.
"I haven't really left my house and when I do, it's bloody tough at times, particularly when things are getting reported that aren't true or you're just trying to keep private and then they put stuff in the paper.
"It can become a bit annoying, but there's nothing you can really do about it."
Make no mistake, Franklin isn't looking for sympathy.
Many would happily put up with the increased attention he confronts if it meant also receiving his $10 million contract and various endorsement deals.
But a follow-up question about whether he feels some of the reporting crosses the line prompts Franklin to reveal a little more about the problems it can cause and his level of frustration.
"I just feel sorry for my partner at times," he said.
"Obviously having a girlfriend and then having stuff written in the paper about your private life can be difficult.
"I feel sorry for my partner and her family and my family too that I'm getting phone calls about issues that aren't even happening.
"It can be tough, but I'm not being a sook. It is what it is.
"There's nothing I can do about it, I just think the papers need to get over it."
Lance Franklin made a slow start to his Swans career against GWS last weekend. Picture: AFL Media.
nce a regular tweeter to his more than 276,000 followers, it is little surprise Franklin has virtually withdrawn from the site since his move north.
Having tweeted more than 1,700 times prior to 2014, this year he has posted on his page just twice – retweeting a comment from Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper in January and then congratulating good mate Sonny Bill Williams on his season-opening victory with the Sydney Roosters on March 6.
Having tweeted more than 1,700 times prior to 2014, this year he has posted on his page just twice – retweeting a comment from Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper in January and then congratulating good mate Sonny Bill Williams on his season-opening victory with the Sydney Roosters on March 6.
Buddy big reason for membership boost
He admits he didn't even know he was being photographed at the beach until the shots appeared in a newspaper the following day.
It wouldn't be a shock therefore if Franklin was guarded and tight-lipped in interviews, but that's not the case.
He generally comes across as open, honest and likeable, although it's also apparent he would probably rather be doing anything else rather than addressing the media.
The two-time premiership winner is hardly alone there among professional footballers and knows to a large extent it comes with the territory.
"I've had (media scrutiny) pretty much my whole career and it can become a bit frustrating at times for me, my family and the football club," he said.
"Being at a new footy club this season, it's probably changed a little bit and has been frustrating at times.
"But I'm just looking forward to getting out there and playing football.
"That's what I'm here to do."
Reading a significant portion of what was written about Franklin following his quiet one-goal, seven-possession debut in round one could have led some to believe he was already finished as a footballer.
A man that turned 27 in January, yes he has just turned 27, has instead been painted by some as more like a wheelchair-bound octogenarian.
Franklin understands some of the criticism as it came in a shock loss to an upstart Greater Western Sydney side.
But he is happy with how he is progressing on the field.
He admits he didn't even know he was being photographed at the beach until the shots appeared in a newspaper the following day.
It wouldn't be a shock therefore if Franklin was guarded and tight-lipped in interviews, but that's not the case.
He generally comes across as open, honest and likeable, although it's also apparent he would probably rather be doing anything else rather than addressing the media.
The two-time premiership winner is hardly alone there among professional footballers and knows to a large extent it comes with the territory.
"I've had (media scrutiny) pretty much my whole career and it can become a bit frustrating at times for me, my family and the football club," he said.
"Being at a new footy club this season, it's probably changed a little bit and has been frustrating at times.
"But I'm just looking forward to getting out there and playing football.
"That's what I'm here to do."
Reading a significant portion of what was written about Franklin following his quiet one-goal, seven-possession debut in round one could have led some to believe he was already finished as a footballer.
A man that turned 27 in January, yes he has just turned 27, has instead been painted by some as more like a wheelchair-bound octogenarian.
Franklin understands some of the criticism as it came in a shock loss to an upstart Greater Western Sydney side.
But he is happy with how he is progressing on the field.
Time to take a deep breath: Damian Barrett
"I think I'm going OK," he said. "The first couple of weeks were probably the hardest settling into a new environment and getting to know my new teammates and people at the club.
"But from there I've been pretty good I reckon. My training blocks have been pretty good.
"The last game was disappointing, as was the whole team, but I think I'm traveling OK.
"I know I'm not going to come out and kick 10 goals every game or get 20-plus touches every game, but as long as I'm playing well for the footy club, I'm happy with that."
His teammates also acknowledge the attention surrounding Franklin has been a little more extreme than they anticipated, but they give every indication they believe he is certainly worth the trouble.
"Buddy's fine, his attitude is great, and the boys love having him at the football club," co-captain Kieren Jack said.
"We're still getting to know him on the football field, he's still getting to know us, so I'm sure he'll bounce back on the weekend (against Collingwood).
"We're rapt to have Buddy and he's buying into what we're all about."
Franklin breaks out into a chuckle when he's asked about the reported dust-up with teammate Ryan O'Keefe and also when the suggestion is raised that he is leading Dan Hannebery astray.
"He's leading me astray, isn't he?" Franklin jokes.
He can't wait to start forging an understanding with Kurt Tippett and Sam Reid in the Swans' forward line and feels he is having no trouble adhering to the Swans' famous culture, which he says is similar to that at Hawthorn.
Franklin is also happily embracing the challenge of seeing out his contract with the Swans that will take him through to the age of 35.
"It's another challenge for me and that's what I like," he said.
"I'm just looking forward to this year and seeing how we go and then every year it's going to be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it.
"People have already written me off, but so be it."
"I think I'm going OK," he said. "The first couple of weeks were probably the hardest settling into a new environment and getting to know my new teammates and people at the club.
"But from there I've been pretty good I reckon. My training blocks have been pretty good.
"The last game was disappointing, as was the whole team, but I think I'm traveling OK.
"I know I'm not going to come out and kick 10 goals every game or get 20-plus touches every game, but as long as I'm playing well for the footy club, I'm happy with that."
His teammates also acknowledge the attention surrounding Franklin has been a little more extreme than they anticipated, but they give every indication they believe he is certainly worth the trouble.
"Buddy's fine, his attitude is great, and the boys love having him at the football club," co-captain Kieren Jack said.
"We're still getting to know him on the football field, he's still getting to know us, so I'm sure he'll bounce back on the weekend (against Collingwood).
"We're rapt to have Buddy and he's buying into what we're all about."
Franklin breaks out into a chuckle when he's asked about the reported dust-up with teammate Ryan O'Keefe and also when the suggestion is raised that he is leading Dan Hannebery astray.
"He's leading me astray, isn't he?" Franklin jokes.
He can't wait to start forging an understanding with Kurt Tippett and Sam Reid in the Swans' forward line and feels he is having no trouble adhering to the Swans' famous culture, which he says is similar to that at Hawthorn.
Franklin is also happily embracing the challenge of seeing out his contract with the Swans that will take him through to the age of 35.
"It's another challenge for me and that's what I like," he said.
"I'm just looking forward to this year and seeing how we go and then every year it's going to be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it.
"People have already written me off, but so be it."
Lance Franklin was unveiled as a Sydney Swan in October last year. Picture: AFL Media
