The club tweeted early on Tuesday morning that Franklin's management had told them the 26-year-old intended to join the club's crosstown rivals, the Sydney Swans, a decision that has shocked the football world.
Click here to listen to Trade Radio NOW
However Giants CEO Dave Matthews told Gillette Trade Radio he was not really surprised at the decision.
"It's been a bit of a circus all year," Matthews said.
Matthews said the Giants intended to move on quickly and work out how it could spend the money now available after Franklin's rebuttal.
"We know it's preoccupied a number of people for a fair period of time. In many ways, we're happy to not waste any more time on it.
"In many ways, you spend the last couple of hours going 'Righto, how would you spend $1.2 million?' It frees up our thinking now."
Although Matthews chose to express some reservations about the proposed deal, the club would have been delighted to acquire the dual premiership forward, rated as one of the most exciting players the game has ever seen.
"He would have been nice to acquire at the right price, but in saying that we now go back to the table and we say, well, what do you spend $1.2 million on?" Matthews said.
However Giants CEO Dave Matthews told Gillette Trade Radio he was not really surprised at the decision.
"It's been a bit of a circus all year," Matthews said.
Matthews said the Giants intended to move on quickly and work out how it could spend the money now available after Franklin's rebuttal.
"We know it's preoccupied a number of people for a fair period of time. In many ways, we're happy to not waste any more time on it.
"In many ways, you spend the last couple of hours going 'Righto, how would you spend $1.2 million?' It frees up our thinking now."
Although Matthews chose to express some reservations about the proposed deal, the club would have been delighted to acquire the dual premiership forward, rated as one of the most exciting players the game has ever seen.
"He would have been nice to acquire at the right price, but in saying that we now go back to the table and we say, well, what do you spend $1.2 million on?" Matthews said.
