New AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has lauded Lance Franklin's impact on the code in NSW and condemned the public spat between Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham.
Pridham likened McGuire to mining magnate-cum-politician Clive Palmer during his pre-match chairman's address last Saturday.
McGuire responded on Monday by labelling the Swans selfish chequebook predators amid other barbs as the pair accused each other's club of self-interest.
In Sydney on Wednesday, McLachlan made it clear he wanted the slanging match to stop.
"I think that both of those guys would regret where this has got got to," McLachlan said.
"I don't think it's edifying for anyone, either of them, or our game, to be having a personal slanging match and hopefully we've seen the end of it."
McGuire's comment about chequebook predators undoubtedly referred to Sydney's acquisition in successive seasons of high-priced forwards Kurt Tippett and Franklin.
McLachlan stressed Franklin's move to the Swans this season had been a huge plus for AFL in NSW.
"He is unbelievable for the development and growth of our code in this state," McLachlan said.
"There's no more exciting player in Australia.
"People like watching him play. He's a star.
"If anyone is going to tell me he's been bad for the promotion of the Swans and our game in NSW, I'll take them to task on that every day."
While he initially considered Franklin's nine-year contract with Sydney a risk because of it's unusual length and the former Hawks' age, McLachlan applauded the smart work of Sydney chief executive Andrew and his team in building the Swans list.
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