People sure as shit love to talk. And when it comes to football stars and their secret doings and transpirings, they love to talk even more.
“I’ve heard that one. On that specific one, I’m extremely close to the other player and it’s laughable, absolutely laughable. The player doesn’t even have a partner, by the way, so it would be a neat trick. I’ve heard all the rumours and I wouldn’t say we investigate them, but certainly the most substantial and salacious-type rumours — I’m comfortable they’re false.”
“It’s unfair. Sometimes the more outrageous rumours are more believable to some people. What can you do about it? That’s the cross these high-profile people have to bear. People say stuff, make stuff up, I don’t know where the stuff comes from.”
Meanwhile, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has again urged people to give Buddy the adequate space required to get his mental health back on track.
“Please, give him the space he needs to deal with it, because it’s unbelievably tough. I’ve spoken to enough people that have had these challenges and I know of it enough and I’ve spoken to the experts – he just needs to be left alone.”
The extent of the rumours is practically ridiculous. As an example, Franklin’s fiancé Jesinta Campbell was spotted outside the couple’s home helping some Junior Swans players move a TV set and unit out of their home, sparking rumours that the pair had split and Campbell was moving out.