Newly-named AFL Legend Royce Hart has urged his former club Richmond to bring the Hawthorn superstar to Punt Road.
He told the Herald Sun that the Tigers need a second key forward to ease the load on Jack Riewoldt.
"(Richmond) are on the right track ... but they still haven't quite got the balance right," Hart said. "I couldn't tell you who has played centre half-forward (for Richmond) this year.
"They need to pick up 'Buddy' Franklin. Why not have a crack at trying to get him if he is available."
Meanwhile, the paper also has confirmed that the Hawks would only receive one compensatory draft selection if he was to leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season.
It would come immediately after the club's first selection, which if Hawthorn's ladder position remains as is, would come at the end of the first round of the NAB AFL National Draft.
This has prompted talk the Hawks might look to trade Franklin at the end of the year, so that they can receive a more favourable outcome in return than simply the 20th or so ranked player in the draft.
Franklin is set to receive a huge offer, reported to be worth $1.5 million a year to leave the Hawks and join Greater Western Sydney.
The Hawks are having a few days away from their club over the bye period and Franklin was spotted out and about in Sydney on Tuesday evening.
