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A couple of days ago an article was published in The Daily Telegraph outlining how the NRL haven’t scheduled a big match in the west (bar the Bulldogs versus Cronulla) when Buddy Franklin and co take on the Greater Western Sydney Giants in 2014.
Head figures of several NRL clubs said they really don’t care, and that’s just about the right mentality to take.
I was just as excited as the next Sydney Swans supporter about seeing one of the most versatile and talented Aussie Rules players doing his thing at the Bloods, because I do enjoy my AFL.
But what makes Buddy Franklin so special that other sporting codes should schedule marquee matches whenever he’s in town playing a lowly AFL side?
It’s quite pathetic to think Franklin would even be a mere threat to anything happening in a rugby league and football loving Sydney, especially considering many who don’t follow the AFL were asking “Buddy Who?” when news broke about his impending arrival.
When an outsider sees Lance Franklin, I doubt they’d react the same way that an AFL fan would. I think they would mostly react as though they’ve just seen an overpaid, egotistical party boy who thinks he is God’s given gift to the world.
When I think of sporting superstars and teams that can bring the crowds in, I think of a match that features Alessandro Del Piero or a Western Sydney Wanderers home game; a match-up between the Burgess brothers and Sonny Bill Williams, or any match featuring the likes of Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston or Greg Inglis.
Not someone whose name continually gets splashed into the social pages of newspapers for his behaviour at social events.
If you gave me an option of attending that game against GWS or any fixture – home or away – for my preferred sides, I know which option I’d take… and Lance “Buddy Franklin” would be the last option on my mind.
A great athlete? Yes.
A game changer who can force other sporting codes to shift around their schedule for his highness’ presence? I think not.
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