Fremantle has salary cap space to make Buddy Franklin a big offer Lance "Buddy" Franklin could be wearing Dockers gear by the end of the year if Ross Lyon gets his way. ROSS Lyon is man with a habit of getting what he wants, and he wants Lance Franklin with a burning passion. Only last February he was happy to state of the league's most dynamic player: "I'll tell you what - I'd give Buddy Franklin $1.5m (a year) tomorrow." Buddy won't get $1.5 million a year at any club other than Greater Western Sydney, but you can guarantee Fremantle is building a sizeable war chest to tempt Franklin across the Nullarbor. Sheedy: We want Buddy too It makes sense on so many levels for Lyon and a Fremantle side that has ageing superstar Matthew Pavlich yet no real succession planning to replace him. Rival clubs still believe former WA local Franklin will stay at Hawthorn, so much so that none of them have spoken to his management about an offer. He is still short odds to stay, and could at any time decide he wants to recommence talks on a deal both Hawthorn and manager Liam Pickering agree is as extremely "respectful." Roughead on the SuperCoach show But while clubs including GWS and even Port Adelaide through president David Koch have expressed interest, the solid industry mail is that Buddy either stays put or heads to the Dockers. Consider Fremantle's golden opportunity to secure Franklin and turn him into 'Buddy Inc'. The 26-year-old would be replete with a five-year deal worth up to $7 million, boast massive media and endorsement deals, and rival Nic Naitanui as a money-making presence. He would be the Prince of West Australia. First discount West Coast from the picture, despite the link to former housemate Sharrod Wellingham. They have a salary cap close to full, a priority to re-contract free agent Mark LeCras, and out-of-contract stars including Dean Cox, Darren Glass, Chris Masten and Eric Mackenzie. Franklin just doesn't get to West Coast next year. Full stop. Yet Fremantle has massive cash invested in its veterans Aaron Sandilands and Pavlich - who have half of their salaries outside the cap - in deals that expire at the end of next year. Also out then are Luke McPharlin and David Mundy, with all of them probably including Mundy set for salary reductions given Mundy signed a huge four-year deal after Essendon went hard at him. Fremantle had $1 million plus a year for Travis Cloke, so that cash is still available for a player clearly superior, and one with significantly better ability to become the face of the club. Some of the Cloke money went to Danyle Pearce, but again that was off-set by Adam McPhee's surprise retirement. Then consider that Freo under can-do man Lyon doesn't want a key forward for ageing superstar Pavlich, it must have one. Fremantle has five ruckmen on its list as a succession plan for Sandilands, including highly encouraging 21-year-old Jack Hannath and 204cm rookie Craig Moller. Yet where is the Pavlich replacement? Chris Mayne is a star who needs a foil, yet none of first-year rookie forwards Alex Howson or Matt Taberner are ready to step up despite real promise. Ross Lyon is desperate to get him - They have more salary cap space than almost every rival - They are crying out for a replacement for 31-year-old Matthew Pavlich - They could back-end a massive deal given key players out of contract next year - They are in the premiership window, which is critical for any Buddy suitor