Lance Franklin of Hawthorn celebrates a goal. Slattery Photo Group
I know we’re only two rounds in, and I will be the first person to put my hand up and admit I was wrong, but it feels like Buddy Franklin has lost confidence in himself, his body, or those around him.
For starters, he is leading to the pockets and the boundary line more and more.
The Hawks midfield will be bringing the ball through the corridor, but then send the inside 50 out wide towards a Buddy lead.
Now, I know that some of the delivery on the weekend was very poor and out of his control, but in 2008, Buddy would lead straight up the middle and demand the footy, take the ball out in front, and then wheel around onto his raking left boot and kick the goal.
What has happened?
This to me is a sign of low confidence. Where is the ‘mojo’?
The other trait that crept into his game was a little bit of laziness. Instead of pushing up the ground or doubling back for a second lead, he is playing closer to the square, and as often as possible, will call for the ball to be kicked in long.
By that stage, though, the Cat’s defence had pounced for an easy spoil.
Now don’t get me wrong. He was serviceable in his first game back this year: 16 possessions and two goals including one telling kick from outside 50.
However, Buddy set his own standards in 2008 winning the Coleman Medal and now he has to live up to them. Hawthorn is depending on it.
He will, of course, be better for the run and it’s fair to suggest his match fitness would have been a little down, so he will improve again this week. But will he be able to regain the magic he displayed in the Hawks’ premiership year?
The way he used to dance around opponents and fend off with the ‘don’t argue’ was mesmerising to watch.
Last week, though, he either got caught in a tackle or ran too far with the ball. Something feels not quite right.
I only hope for Hawks fans that he can somehow find the ‘mojo’ he seems to have lost, and quickly.
The draw doesn’t get any easier for the Hawks, playing the Bulldogs on Sunday at Etihad Stadium, and if ever they need a big game from their superstar forward, it’s this weekend.
Who could forget Buddy’s eight goal performance against the Bulldogs in that final in 2008?
Playing on Brian Lake, one of the game’s best and strongest defenders, not even Lake could find a way to stop the famous Buddy burst.
Again, we can assume he will have to lower Lake’s colours, but it will take something special to do so.
As a combination, the Franklin and Roughead duo feels a little less formidable as a result.
Roughy booted four last week and Buddy two, not a bad return. But they need to fully fire together for the Hawks to push deep into September.
In many ways, if the twin towers were to fall over, so too would the Hawks premiership aspirations.
Everyone in the football world wants to see Buddy Franklin at his sizzling best, and if he has lost his ‘mojo’ for whatever reason, let’s hope it returns sooner rather than later.
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