INDUSTRY figures are split as to whether Lance Franklin will remain at Hawthorn beyond 2013.
AFL.com.au canvassed the views of a range of football and list managers and player agents to assess the likelihood of Franklin playing at another club in 2014.
Most believe any club chasing Franklin's signature would need to make a godfather offer somewhere between $1.6 million to $2 million a year to entice him away.
Hawthorn is considered a strong club, in a premiership window, and despite the odd publicity hiccup along the way, the No.23 is said to be comfortable in Melbourne.
Hawthorn would be expected to be capable of offering a little more than $1 million per year to Franklin.
"I'm hearing more and more that he'll probably stay," one leading agent told AFL.com.au.
But the Greater Western Sydney talk won't go away.
"There is pressure for GWS to improve and they need some middle tier players," a club official said.
And Kevin Sheedy is happy to let everyone know there is a barrel of money ready to be distributed and Franklin is top of its list.
Even when the strong rumours of a $2 million offer to Franklin are floated at a media conference.
"We did miss out on Tippett, so we actually have played this year without the money that we probably had for Izzy Folau," Sheedy said on Tuesday.
"So we're probably playing one or two short in that area regarding the salary cap and that's not bad.
"It's pretty obvious that Buddy's available though, so you'd go after him wouldn’t you?"
Will he stay or go?
INDUSTRY figures are split as to whether Lance Franklin will remain at Hawthorn beyond 2013.