Franklin faced intense scrutiny after he made the call to move to Sydney on a nine-year, $10 million deal, with some suggesting he would tear down the foundations the Swans had spent three decades building.

 

Criticism intensified when he crashed his model girlfriend's car in the wealthy suburb of Rose Bay in April, when the Swans were in the midst of a 2-3 start to the year.

 

But Franklin handled the pressure well and completed his first home and away season in the Harbour City with a third Coleman Medal, despite missing three games resting his troublesome knee.

 

Memberships are at an all-time high and the Swans have enjoyed huge home crowds and Franklin is surely the reason behind at least some of that.

 

But Richards said Franklin had done much more than generate publicity.

 

"He's done more than put bums on seats," he said.

 

"He copped it at the start of the year, externally. There were reports that were just so far off the mark.

 

"It was incredibly hard for him, but his ability just to focus in on what's important has been phenomenal.

 

"From my perspective, apart from a simple crashing of a car, he's done nothing wrong.

 

"His ability just to play well every week is a real credit to him.

 

"A lot of people talk about the attention he's given the Swans and the bums on seats, but to be fair he's playing well every week."

 

Richards then seemed to bristle at a suggestion from one reporter that Franklin, who has kicked 67 goals, might raise his output even higher in the finals.

 

"I'd love to say that, but to be fair to him, he's won the Coleman, he's probably going to be All Australian – he's at a fair level right now," he said.

 

Richards, who only previously knew Franklin from playing against him, said he had been pleasantly surprised to get to know the key forward, noting he was nothing like his public perception.

 

In terms of Richards' on-field assignments, the recruitment of Franklin and Kurt Tippett in the past two years has certainly helped in his weekly battles to defend the competition's best forwards.

 

A considered, intelligent individual, Richards allowed himself a little quip on Thursday about the Swans' contentious Cost of Living Allowance, which is now being phased out.

 

"Two gun forwards," he said, "if I was in charge of recruiting, I'd still go after a few more.

 

"But I think the COLA is full."

 

Another Swan that has been receiving extraordinary media coverage is veteran Adam Goodes.

 

The fact he is the Australian of the Year has obviously added to the interest surrounding the dual Brownlow medallist, but he has also faced intense recent commentary over the perception he stages for free kicks.

 

Richards had little interest in adding to the speculation on Thursday, simply defending his teammate and friend.

 

"It kind of blew up a bit from nowhere on social media and personally I haven't put much attention into it," he said.

 

"It seems like Goodesy's name has been in the media a lot over the last year or two and he's a bloody good bloke and a bloody good person.

 

"He's able to just focus in on what's important, so I don't think it'll distract him at all. I think he'll just let his footy this week do the talking.

 

"We all fully respect him as a guy and I'll just leave it there. You can never underestimate him. He's an absolute champion."

 

Richards, who has won a premiership and earned All Australian honours across his 228-game career, was also quizzed about his playing future.

 

Earlier this year, he signed a one-year extension that takes him until the end of 2015.

 

"I'm 31. I'm on one-year deals now," he said. "I'm not expecting a 'Buddy contract'."

 

Twitter: @AFL_JD