Lance Franklin urges Saints to rethink $1.7m splurge as current star circled by rivals
AFL legend Lance Franklin doesn't believe St Kilda is making the right call if it truly is offering Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning $1.7 million per season.
The Saints have been heavily linked with the Blues star all season, and he is yet to make a call on his future.
Franklin admits he would be hesitant to put that sort of investment into the ruck position, adding that St Kilda is in greater need of quality midfielders.
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Rowan Marshall and Tom De Koning went head to head on Friday night. Getty
"It's a lot of money. He is a ruckman, let's remember that. I personally would not be paying that to a ruckman," Franklin told the Buddy and Shane podcast.
"I mean, good luck to him if he gets it, but personally if I was the list boss or the people who do all the money at the club, I would be spending it on a couple of midfielders.
"I think they're in need of that. Hopefully find another $300,000, go find two $1m midfielders, because that's what they're crying out for.
"They've got some good midfielders, but they just need a couple of extra numbers in there to help out the boys.
"If you're going to spend that kind of money, you want to be sure they can deliver for you, and that they get in and buy into your culture as well."
St Kilda is hoping to re-sign star defender Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, though both Adelaide and Port Adelaide are keen on luring him home to South Australia.
Franklin believes the Saints should be paying the line-breaking half back effectively whatever he wants.
"That's where that million is probably going (to Wanganeen-Milera), that $1.5m," Franklin said.
"You are keeping him for sure. He does things that not many can do. He breaks up the game."
St Kilda heads west in round 10, taking on West Coast at Optus Stadium.
