- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
I’m not for one moment suggesting the impact of Lance ‘Call me Buddy’ Franklin should be seen for anything other than what it is – match-winning.
A huge portion of the focus this week leading into the grand final will centre around Bud meeting his mates in the decider, just 12 months after he helped them win the whole thing.
But let’s not forget another pair who changed from one flock to another four years earlier than Bud, and the significant impact both have had on the Swans.
CATCH UP ON THE LATEST AFL HIGHLIGHTS
Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn both made the move from the Hawks at the end of the 2009 season. Both saw brighter horizons in Sydney after a season where each had played just three senior matches apiece.
For Kennedy in particular it was a massive move considering his family tradition at Hawthorn, while for McGlynn, after just 44 senior matches in four seasons at the club, he was looking to give his career a much needed shot in the arm.
For both, the move proved to be perfection.
While they haven’t and won’t ever get the headlines of Franklin, and they won’t win a match off their boot like Buddy is capable of, the importance of the pair to the Swans is paramount.
Kennedy arrived at a time when the Swans midfield was about to be reshaped. Brett Kirk was close to retirement, Jude Bolton and Ryan O’Keefe still had a few seasons in them, but were closer to the end than the start of their careers, and youngsters like Dan Hannebery, Kieren Jack and even to an extent Jarrad McVeigh, were working their way into the roles in the middle.
Kennedy became a leader. Swans fans would marvel at Kennedy and the work he would do. The rest of the AFL world took some time cotton on to how good he was, but a best-on-ground performance in the elimination final that year against Carlton had everyone taking notice.
And they have done so since as he regularly dominates games not only with statistics, but through skill and leadership and dragging those young blokes along with him.
McGlynn, is regularly inspirational.
You won’t see many of the things he does for his team and his teammates on the stat sheet, but he adds so much to the Swans every week. Not just one percenters, they are 0.01 percenters. The things very few of us notice, but the things I’m sure his coach and teammates are thankful for.
This year’s grand final is something special for McGlynn too. While Kennedy celebrated his move to Sydney with a grand final win over his old club in 2012, McGlynn missed the match due to a hamstring injury.
While he was no doubt jubilant for his teammates, at times he looked forlorn as his good mates celebrated in front of their fans firstly in Melbourne, then in Sydney at the SCG the following day.
But now his turn has arrived, and it will mark a notable achievement.
After just 44 games at Hawthorn, on Saturday McGlynn will bring up game number 100 with the Swans. That’s one more than a legend like Roy Cazaly played at the Swans, and couple more than Tony Lockett spend in the red and white.
McGlynn is hoping that he will also have something neither man won – a premiership medal.
And how fitting it would be if another Sydney number 21 got to celebrate on the MCG on grand final day. The last time a Swan wearing that number won a premiership, he produced one of the greatest moments of the sport’s history – Leo Barry and that mark.
While we are talking Swans legends, surely if there was ever any doubt, Adam Goodes must sit atop the list. He played his 350th last Friday night, he’s won two Brownlow Medals, and will be hoping to win a third premiership medal on Saturday.
Finally, we have all got the grand final we wanted. The year’s best two teams will clash in a rematch of the 2012 decider.
Sometimes when you get the two best teams in the decider, you get a classic, one for the ages. Maybe that will happen on Saturday.
Personally, I doubt it. The Hawks looked a tired bunch at the end of their nailbiter against Port. Sydney just looked ruthless and salivating for the next ‘kill’.
I’d love a classic, but I’m thinking this could one way traffic in the second half. The fat lady will be humming ‘cheer, cheer the red and the white,’ long before the final siren.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.