Bloods, sweat and jeers wait for Buddy in Swans signing PT1M46S http://www.smh.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-2uq6c 620 349 October 2, 2013 - 8:35AM The club that enshrined the "No Dickheads" policy into Australian sporting legend is on the verge of signing one of the AFL's authentic loose cannons. The tug-of-war between the famous Sydney Swans culture and the wayward genius of Lance "Buddy" Franklin could provide a captivating sideshow to the undoubted impact the Hawthorn superstar will have alongside Kurt Tippett in 2014 and, apparently, way beyond. If it all goes well, the Bloods culture will win out, Franklin will settle in and mature on and off the field in the relatively anonymous Sydney environment, far from the suffocating fish bowl the West Australian country boy has lived in since making his debut for the Hawks as an 18-year-old in 2005. Wrong fit: Not everyone is thrilled about the Sydney Swan's acquisition of Lance Franklin Photo: Getty Images But his decision to choose Bondi over Bonnyrigg - all the speculation was that he'd join GWS - will come with temptations. Lots of them. Like a great cocktail, the best ingredients are available. Buddy's buddy Kurtley Beale has returned to the Waratahs, stationed next to the Swans' SCG headquarters. Cricket firebrand David Warner will be floating around the precinct a bit more with fewer international commitments. Franklin might even get to compare tatts at some stage with potential Roosters recruit Blake Ferguson, who could also be training next door. The Sydney Football Stadium cafe has never seen anything like it. And, potentially, Sydney's nightclubs won't have seen anything like it since "All Night" Dwight Yorke bling'd into town to put the A-League on the map. In 2009, Franklin said in interview: "I know what's easy, the football stuff's the easy stuff. It's the other stuff ... that's bloody hard. The Franklin of five years ago wouldn't have stood a chance. How will the new Franklin go? Reaction from fans was somewhere between cool to mixed. "As a Sydney Swans member I sincerely hope that the club does NOT recruit Buddy Franklin," reader Chris commented under our online story on Tuesday. Nothing to do with money. He isn't the right kind of person for the Swans. He will be a bucketload of trouble and may well destroy the club's ethos. He's a huge ego in a club that prides itself on putting team before self. All wrong. Please don't do it Sydney! Blood's Man commented: "I really don't know what to feel at the moment. I don't want his ego but seeing how Tippett has fit so well into the Swans culture I believe that the Swans can make a decent man out of Buddy yet. But he [should] lose 200K for any misdemeanor he commits. It's a tough school, but Swans tragic Adam Spencer believes the club's record of moulding players into champions and better blokes will prevail if Franklin lobs. "The two defining aspects of the Swans are their culture and their ability to bring in new players and find the best in them," said Spencer, the 702 ABC breakfast radio host. When you look at what they've done with Ben McGlynn, Josh Kennedy, Rhyce Shaw etcetera, I can't wait to see what they unlock in Buddy. Spencer said he believed Franklin would enjoy the peace of Sydney, which would allow him to concentrate on football without the madness thrown in. "I'm sure Sydney will welcome Buddy Franklin to Sydney both on-field and off," he said. I can't wait to see him go around on the SCG. Total votes: 23728. Poll closes in 3 days.