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Lance Franklin won’t have any problem handling the inevitable hoopla of him lining up against his former club Hawthorn in Saturday’s AFL grand final, according to Sydney teammate Nick Malceski.
The potential promoter’s dream showdown between Buddy’s past and present employers was locked in after both clubs won their respective preliminary finals.
Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead cautioned his side against focusing on Franklin and allowing one of Sydney’s other three tall forwards off the leash.
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Franklin won two premierships with the Hawks, kicking 580 goals in 182 games, before inking a nine-season, $10 million dollar deal with Sydney in late 2013.
Malceski doubts Franklin will be fazed by the circus and scrutiny that will be attached to the flamboyant forward facing his former club in a season decider.
“I think he gets it every week though, even if it’s not Hawthorn (he’s playing against),” Malceski said.
“So he’ll handle it the way he does every week, and I’m sure he’ll perform.”
Franklin was uncharacteristically inaccurate in both of Sydney’s home and away games against the Hawks.
He kicked 2.7 in a home win and 3.5 in an away defeat for a combined tally of 5.12, compared to 70.37 from his other 19 games.
“Bud will definitely be pumping himself up to play the Hawks,” Franklin’s good friend Josh Gibson told the Seven Network.
Gibson, Matt Spangher, Brian Lake and Ben Stratton are among the candidates to play on Franklin on Saturday.
“I’d say the blokes who play on him will know a few tricks,” Roughead said.
“But if they put all their effort into one bloke (Kurt) Tippett or (Adam) Goodes or (Sam) Reid will get off the leash as well.”
Reid will be assessed on Monday, with the club expecting he’ll be right to play on Saturday despite jarring his knee against North Melbourne.
Malceski said Franklin had been outstanding in his first season with the Swans, in which the forward has so far kicked a competition leading 75 goals.
“He’s probably the best player in the comp at the moment along with ‘Gaz’ (Gary Ablett),” Malceski said.
“His goalkicking has improved this year, he’s done a lot of work with (former Swans forward) Nick Davis.”
Even without Franklin, Hawthorn scored almost 300 points more than any other club during the 22 home and away rounds, with three players bagging over 50 goals.
Roughead kicked 70, Jack Gunston 56 and Luke Breust 54.
“We showed in games last year when he (Franklin) wasn’t there that we were capable of winning games and having a good forward structure,” Roughead said.
Roughead and Franklin have remained in contact since the latter moved to Sydney.
“We speak, we send each other texts before the game wishing each other luck,’ Roughead said.
“We’re still going to be mates, although for two or three hours next week we won’t.”
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