Superstar. Freakish. Graceful. Match-winner. That’s Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin summed up for you in four adjectives. At his best, ‘Buddy’ is the most dangerous player in the AFL. He can do things on a footy field not too many others can do, including turning a game within the space of 10 minutes.
Franklin is impossible to matchup on – certainly in a one-one-one situation. He’s a man mountain, yet has the aerobic capacity and tank of a brand new Ford Festiva. He can kick double figure bags of goals but can also accumulate 20 plus possessions.
Seriously, is there anything the man can’t do?
Yes there is, in fact. He can’t behave himself on the field.
Yes, he’s close to the best player in the competition, but Franklin lacks maturity and common sense. Sorry, let me rephrase that: Franklin has no maturity or common sense whatsoever.
The star full-forward was recently offered a one-match suspension by the match review panel for striking Gold Coast’s Maverick Weller in Launceston last Saturday afternoon. The panel deemed the impact as low-level, yet high and reckless, as Buddy was upright at the time and Weller had possession of the ball in a crouched position.
Realistically, Franklin and Hawthorn are fortunate he’s only missing one week. The big man hit Weller with the point of his elbow and with decent momentum too. Luckily he didn’t have much follow through and Weller escaped without serious injury.
The hit wasn’t Franklin’s first offence either.
He’s now been suspended four times in three seasons. All were attempted bumps. All were reckless. All were avoidable.
Buddy copped a two-game suspension for a high bump on Richmond’s Ben Cousins in Round 21, 2009. His undisciplined manner cost him again last season, when he suffered two one-match bans for separate hits on Western Bulldogs’ Jason Akermanis and Sydney’s Martin Mattner.
Each time, Franklin could’ve tackled because the opposing player was in possession of the footy at the time. Instead his carelessness, clumsiness and poor choice forced him to do time on the sidelines.
Who cares how good this guy is? He needs to be held accountable. He needs to change his style.
Franklin’s elbow on the weekend was damn stupid and dangerous.
Surely he knew better. Surely he knew the tackle was a much safer option than the bump.
He could’ve tackled, but chose to raise his arm instead. Now he, and his team, will suffer the consequences.
How do you think coach Alastair Clarkson would be feeling now?
From a coaching viewpoint, it’s inexcusable to do what Franklin did. As a coach, you always encourage your players to tackle, not bump. But, once again, he got caught up in the moment and couldn’t resist.
If the losses of Chance Bateman, Jarryd Roughead, Stephen Gilham, Ben Stratton and Brent Renouf weren’t enough, now Clarkson has to prepare his Hawks for Friday night’s clash with Essendon minus Franklin. Obviously he’s a big loss, but he’s an even bigger loss this time round, because he’s averaged 5.6 goals per game the last five times the two teams have met, including a haul of nine in 2008.
Despite a four-match losing streak, expect the money to come for the Bombers this week.
Not only has Franklin hurt his team and its chances of winning on Saturday night, but he’s also ruined his shot at winning a Brownlow medal this season.
Buddy is having an outstanding 2011. He’s as fit as he’s ever been and is causing havoc up the ground, hence his career-high disposal average of 20 per game. He also sits on top of the goal kicking table with 42 goals, an average of almost four a match.
No doubt he’s stood out to umpires on numerous occasions this season, but his one-match suspension now means he’s ineligible to win the Brownlow medal. What a waste.
It’s a massive shame. Buddy is more than capable of becoming the first full-forward since Tony Lockett in 1987 to win the league’s Best and Fairest award. If he gets his head straight, maybe he’ll win it one season.
Hopefully, for the sake of his teammates, supporters and Franklin himself, the penny’s dropped after his latest suspension. With any luck, he now realises if he wants to get involved in a game, he needs to earn a kick, take a grab or kick a goal. Or if he can’t get his hands on the footy, lay a tackle – don’t bump.
Buddy’s silly, but he’s also brilliant. Let’s hope by the time he’s finished, we remember him for the latter.
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