A media report in a Melbourne newspaper today has suggested Freo will make a bid for ‘Buddy’ as it looked to replace 31-year-old Matthew Pavlich.
The article claimed Lyon wanted Franklin “with a burning passion”.
But Lyon dismissed the story and called it a “beat-up”.
“I’m disappointed with it,” he said.
The senior coach told reporters he had sought out Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson at an AFL Coaches Association meeting last year to clarify the issue.
“I said to him, ‘It is not us’,” Lyon said.
“That’s on the public record and that hasn’t changed.
“It should clarify that for the whole AFL industry, I can’t be any clearer than that.
“I think that really puts this article as lack of rigour, lack of substance and just sensationalism in its true context.”
Lyon said Freo’s first priority was its current playing list, not pursuing players at other clubs.
“We’ve got some real emerging, leading players of the competition, and some veterans that we want to look after as well,” he said.
“The clear message to our playing group is that they are our priority.
“And that’s a clear message for anyone that wants to write stories that have no basis.”
