Never has one man, in such a short time, been so responsible for the demise of one club.
That’s what we are led to believe if you listen to some of the disgruntled coat-tuggers on why the Sydney Swans have begun the season with a pair of disappointing losses.
Single-handedly Lance Franklin has turned a top-four team into a side incapable of playing September football; a side out the window with bookmakers when framing premiership markets.
Buddy this, Buddy that. We have heard all kinds of things.
He’s getting too much money and it’s created a rift among his teammates, he was never going to fit into the much-vaunted Swans culture, he was involved in a fight with Ryan O’Keefe at training, he lent his car to teammate Dan Hannebery who crashed it and my personal favourite – he’s at the beach, but not with his girlfriend!
The apparent instability the recruitment and subsequent arrival of Franklin has had on the Sydney Swans Football Club is truly remarkable if we believe everything we hear or read.
Here are a couple of things I’ve noticed in the first two games of the life with Buddy for the Swans.
Firstly, he’s trying to do all the things the Swans like. All the little things. As leaders and coaches have said throughout the years: “We just need everyone playing their role.”
Buddy is trying to do the team things, and that’s what he was doing on Saturday night, back inside the defensive 50m trying to help get the ball out. Alas, his slick low handpass was dropped, the ball turned over and Collingwood kicked a goal.
Buddy, do the one percenters, do the team things, but don’t change who you are. You are the most dynamic, potent forward in the game, that’s what Swans fans and your team need to see in Sydney.
You were brought here to either kick goals, or be a foil for your fellow forwards so they can kick goals. You will only get more frustrated going back in defence to get the ball. And when you do, who’s up forward to kick it to? Not you!
The Swans have enough defenders, let them do their job, Let the midfielders start running both ways, which has been lacking in the first two rounds, and then you can do your stuff.
The crowd lit up one time in particular on Saturday, when Franklin wheeled onto his left and let rip from outside 50m, and it sailed through. That’s what they want, not seeing him back in defence helping out.
Secondly, it’s all well and good for me to want Buddy to be the Hawthorn version, but the supply of ball into the forward line has not been the standard he’s used to, or the standard the Swans are capable of.
They are off, for whatever reason, but I doubt it’s because the midfielders are worrying about Buddy’s bank balance.
I’ve heard coach John Longmire and his predecessor Paul Roos speak many times after poor performances, and the message has been the same as it was after Saturday’s loss.
They need everyone playing to their potential, and when they don’t get that, they can struggle. As Longmire said after the loss to Collingwood, “We’ve got to make sure we play the footy we want to play.”
Right now, there are quite a few Swans playing below their best, it’s not just Buddy, and clearly they aren’t playing the football that Longmire and the supporters want them to play.
Is there a reason why they have slid from the penultimate game of 2013 to where they are now?
Well, they have lost Jude Bolton out of their midfield. And while you may say he was past his best and not the vital cog of several years ago, when young Swans saw a veteran like Jude throwing his body into contests all over the ground, with no consideration of pain or injury, they would have felt inspired and obligated to do likewise.
Shane Mumford is another loss, but that’s footy. They have to move on, and they have the cattle to do so.
It’s not like this is unfamiliar territory for the Swans. Back in 2006 they started 0-2, but righted the ship to come within one point of West Coast on grand final day.
And how many times have we heard how the players have gathered for a truth session to get things sorted and back on track? Perhaps one is scheduled for this week.
They could easily win four of their next five, although Fremantle at the SCG will be tough, and be sitting at 4-3 when they host the premiers at ANZ in Round 8.
They could also be 2-5 or 1-6 unless they rectify the glitches in their form right now.
For Swans fans, it’s not time to panic just yet, but I’m sure it would be nice not to avoid the water cooler on a Monday morning.
As for Buddy, two games into that mega-million dollar, 50-year contract or whatever it was, Longmire put it simply, and best.
“He’ll get better.”
Hopefully his teammates will too.
penguin
Guest
Bigger problem is selection and coaching atm. Their best tagger was the sub (Bird), and McAffer took Jack out of the game whilst Pendlebury ran riot. Pies looked slick whilst Swans looked slow and surprisingly without a game plan, which is unusual. Pies outplayed Swans at a ground the Swans dislike. Swans defence is also struggling without Johnson. Malceski and Shaw are both down, as is Teddy. There were some bad slips, tackles missed and turnovers (Due to the Pies costant pressure it must be said!) which were un-Swan-like and led directly to goals. Having said that Cloke and White were well held by Teddy and Reg (as was Swan by McGlynn) but it was the Pies' smaller forwards and midfielders running forward who caused the damage. Swans were badly outplayed after quarter time. Confidence is obviously down and they need their leaders to lift. Goodes return is the most vital as he will add to both the forwards and midfield. Without him in the latter part of last year the Swans did a great job of holding it together, but never really looked like challenging for the flag. People forget how good he is and how integral to the Swans. They will get better but their structure has been badly hit by the loss of Mumford and Goodes' injury. Horse hasn't worked it out yet but he will and they will be much stronger in a months time. Weather the storm in the meantime Swannies!
Epiquin
Roar Guru
He may still be getting the media attention, but the media attention is in Melbourne and he is in Sydney...
Lroy
Guest
Well, it sees to me they are misusing him. He is up and about getting kicks on the wing.. whats the point of that?? He should be playing out of the square IMO. The problem isnt Buddy, the Swans midfield isnt dominating like they have been, Pies tore them to bits.
Penster
Guest
Tippet and Franklin on the same team is akin to owning a Jaguar. You need 2 of them because one is always in for repairs.
Penster
Guest
It's too funny. He had 2 defenders wrapped around him like seaweed last week and still managed disposals. Why didn't they kick to the loose man? Sydney's game plan needs a review.
Axle an the guru
Guest
<Reply: Your team will come good Michael, i think they will finish 4 or 5. Franklin will come good, he is a proven champion like Goodes, both great footballers, but IMO Tippitt is a WOFTAM , he is starting to look like one of those recruits that is going to stuggle to get on the paddock on a regular basis. Good luck with him. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Michael huston
Guest
It's true, it's been Sydneys midfield more than anything that's let them down. After last year, I can't believe I'm saying that. However, I think they will come good. They have some young, tough and fierce midfielders such as Mitchell, Hannebery, and Parker. They're still in their early 20's and will only get tougher and could prove to be more important than Bolton or O'Keefe ever were (or at least close to them!) Sydney then have a tough, polished mature side to their midfield as well in McVeigh, Kennedy and Jack. It seems as though Sydney are a bit young and still adapting to the intensity of the game (remember they won their 2012 flag about two or three years ahead of schedule). The gun forwards in Tippett and Franklin and Reid simply need game time together, and the midfield need game time to work WITH those forwards. As for their defense, Sydney have outstanding young defenders in Johnston, Rampe and Smith who have been doing better than the veterans in Shaw, Richards and Grundy. Don't people realize the Swans list is all over the shop as key players are either still injured or inexperienced because of those injuries. People have said, "But your entire midfield had no injuries." So? Players that might not be our best but are important to our game plan, such as Rohan, Jetta, Reid, Tippett, Shaw, Roberts-Thompson etc. have all missed long periods due to injury and the team is still finding it's feet with those players all thrown back in. I truly believe Sydney have as good a chance as anybody at challenging for the flag in 2015, being that they have arguably the best team in the league, but unfortunately, 2014 is probably out of the question. The players look unfit, unsure of the game plan and out of form, and will take at least half a season to rediscover their best form, by which point they may have even more losses on the board and have virtually no chance of making the top four. Don't call me a pezimist, call me a realist: come on guys, we've all seen the articles of hope showing stats of previous winning sides terrible starts to the season, but does anyone - looking at the Swans not-just-average but woeful first two games - actually believe they can instantly turn around obvious on field issues and march towards September undefeated? Sorry, my beloved Swans. Top eight would surely be a lock-in, since they can't continue this form for most of the season. But top four? Probably out of our reach. It's not all doom and gloom: providing we have a good year with injury, our (almost) best 22 will go out this year and prepare and train for a 2015 season I think they will dominate.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
The haven't stated it but have suggested that he has started the erosion of the culture that has led to the demise...which I disagree with.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
We haven't had Tippett there yet. Will see what happens then however Longmire has said he will mostly play forward this year. Kennedy was better (not great but a + ) 2nd week around, so too was Jetta but McVeigh is having a shocker.
Cat
Roar Guru
Hmmm when Riewoldt was the 'hottest young key forward' as you put it the Tigers as a team went no where, now that Riewoldt is playing more of a team role, the Tigers have played their first final and look like a good chance to be in the finals again. Not saying he is the sole thing thats changed but it is part of it.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
I think this is the role they see Tippet as playing, not Reid. I'm surprised they haven't used Reid in the backline more - he seems a natural there to me.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
"At least Kennedy seems as good as ever, and Hannebery and McVeigh seem not far away" Have you watched the Swans in their first two games of the season? These three were WELL below what they're capable of, particularly in the first game.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
When it comes to the gun forwards, I think sometimes their teams or the players themselves overthink things too much and try too hard to be a team player. These guys are virtuosos and are at their best when they just go for the footy and try to rip a game apart. If they can lay the ocassional tackle, shepherd or dummy lead in between then great. But don't get distracted by that stuff. Look at what's happened at Richmond with Riewoldt. He went from the hottest young key forward in the game, taking high grabs and kicking bags, to being a decoy forward and leading way up outside 50m. Has that benefited the Tigers? I don't think so.
Rich_daddy
Roar Guru
Buddy and Lewis Jetta were probably close to the Swans best on Saturday night. They need to plant Reid in the forward line and give the midfielders another talk option to kick to.
Gecko
Guest
Michael I think your comments about the Swans losing Jude Bolton and Shane Mumford are important. Ryan O'Keefe is also not at his best, either due to attitude reasons (which may be due to tensions with Swans' management) or his ageing body. Those 3 were the core of the Swans' threshing machine at centre bounces, laying continuous bone-crunching tackles. The Swans' midfield is now a very tame affair. Pyke is a good around-the-ground mark, but he lacks Mumford's physical presence at clearances. Parker finally has an opportunity in the midfield and needs to step up in 2014 or be traded at the end of the season. At least Kennedy seems as good as ever, and Hannebery and McVeigh seem not far away. The loss of key players has contributed to the Swans' lack of presence around the packs. Attitude (possibly from a cultural change signaled by the recruiting of Buddy) has also contributed.Whether attitude can be reversed, perhaps on the back of improved fitness from Ryan O'Keefe and Kieran Jack, still remains to be seen.
TomC
Roar Guru
I honestly have not read one article that says that Buddy Franklin is solely responsible for the 'demise' of the Sydney football club, which is the starting point for this article.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Thankyou Michael for writing this and stressing the Swans are not screwed due to Buddy's contract. Swans need to pull the finger out true, but it isn't Franklin pulling down the Swans it is the midfield and defence. In fact, forward line has done quite well with Reid playing good games while Franklin and others are not getting the entry into the forward 50 that is quality.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Have you been on The Roar lately? Have you missed the horde of articles that have basically stated the sky is falling at Sydney?
Gremlins
Guest
My personal favourite was Franklin's comment when it was announced that he was to leave Hawthorn. He wanted, he said, to play in a premiership. Sydney will have to come to terms that they haven't signed up any Einstein. But he is handy for keeping defenders busy.
Mark Lewis
Roar Rookie
Has everyone forgotten the amount of games Buddy was missing in whilst in the brown and gold? He'll be out and about this year, for sure. Without Buddy (2013), the Swans weren't as highly thought of for the premiership this year, and yet suddenly he's a major reason his new team's out of form play? Ridiculous.