HAWTHORN legend Leigh Matthews is confident the premiers can thrive without star forward Lance Franklin.
After winning his second premiership with the Hawks, Franklin is a free agent and seems set to accept a massive offer from Greater Western Sydney.
The two-time Coleman medallist was emotional after Saturday's Grand Final win over Fremantle.
Franklin will meet with his manager on Monday or Tuesday and an announcement is expected soon.
"They've played very well when he hasn't played ... that's the great thing," Matthews said on Channel Seven's Game Day.
"Clearly they want to keep him.
"But Jobe Watson would be a greater loss for Essendon, for instance.
"(Joel) Selwood would probably be a greater loss for Geelong.
"They don't look (like) they're as dependent on Franklin as maybe they were a few years ago."
One of the keys to Hawthorn this year was the development of more goalscoring options.
Franklin played further up the ground and only kicked one goal from a 50m penalty, while Jack Gunston led the way with four.
Teammate Sam Mitchell said it was a credit to Franklin that he had changed his role.
"For the majority of his career (he has been) this big key target ... we'll just kick it to you and don't worry about the rest," Mitchell said.
"Particularly the last couple of weeks, his job has been to go up the ground and take his man.
"He's not going to kick five or six goals playing that role.
"Internally, you look at his game and say he did so many good things for us yesterday."
Mitchell and Hawks captain Luke Hodge said if Franklin decides to leave, he will go with their best wishes.
"Whatever happens, he gave his all yesterday and so did all the other boys," Hodge told Channel Nine's The Footy Show.
"It's a massive decision ... we're all hoping (he stays)."
