Malthouse rips into ‘Buddy’ in AFL

Former AFL coach Mick Malthouse has savaged the workrate of star forward Lance Franklin after Hawthorn’s bad loss to Richmond.

Franklin’s goalkicking inaccuracy continued when he managed only 1.3 in the 62-point belting.

Coach Alastair Clarkson strongly backed Franklin post-match, saying the two-time Coleman Medallist was only missing some “polish” in his game.

But Malthouse was much less impressed with Franklin’s attitude.

“Buddy just didn’t look interested, he didn’t really look like he really wanted to come up the ground and when he did and did not get it he just moped back,” Malthouse said on 3AW.

“I have watched Franklin go into the middle time and time again and he has not got the fundamentals.

“You have got to have a defensive mindset and Buddy has not got that.”

It was the second serious setback in five weeks for Hawthorn, following their second half in round five against Sydney.

The Hawks are rated as premiership favourites and again, Malthouse is far from convinced.

“They looked rudderless yesterday (against Richmond),” Malthouse said.

“How they have got them down as flag favourite is beyond me.

“I have not seen them be what is claimed to be the best side.”

Hawthorn dropped to eighth with a 5-4 record and face a danger game this Saturday in Launceston against North Melbourne.

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