Australian Football League side Western Bulldogs President Peter Gordon said the league "should never again allow a player to sign a deal like the 10-year deal that lured Lance Franklin to Sydney," according to Matt Murnane of THE AGE.
While apologizing to Sydney for any offense his comments early last week about the Swans' cost-of-living allowance "might have caused," Gordon "did not back down on the broader issue of equalisation, calling for the league to introduce a six-year limit on player contracts."
Gordon "moved to clear up any misconceptions about his comments that the Swans had exploited the cost-of-living allowance." He said, "We, the clubs, are a confederation of sworn enemies who will exploit the rules in any way we can within the law. I don't assert that they [Sydney] broke any law. I don't assert that they are cheats … they are a very canny and professional organization" (THE AGE, 6/1). In Sydney, Daniel Cherny reported Swans CEO Andrew Ireland "expressed dismay when speaking on 3AW radio." He said, "For Peter Gordon to make those sorts of comments are offensive. He should worry more about running his own club. The fact is he’s effectively saying we’re cheating." Carlton coach Mick Malthouse "had been another to lambast Sydney's allowance during the week." Ireland did not "miss the Blues either." Ireland: ''The last time I looked, Carlton hasn’t won too many premierships without breaching the salary cap" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/31).
