Lance Franklin continues to climb up the list of all-time leading VFL-AFL goalkickers, but it’s his other assets which are earning the plaudits of his Sydney coach and teammates.
Franklin kicked two late goals in Saturday’s 16-point derby home win over Greater Western Sydney to move up to 874, joint ninth with Peter McKenna.
The 31 year-old spearhead had another compelling duel with Giants’ defender Phil Davis and didn’t have a single score against his name until just a few minutes from the end, but ultimately secured the hard-earned win for his club.
The Giants had kicked four straight goals to slash a 33-point deficit to ten, when Franklin added yet another spectacular long distance score to his already packed highlight reel.
He fended off Nick Haynes and booted the ball around 60 metres for a pressure relieving goal and added a second major a few minutes later.
Even without those goals, Franklin had stuffed the stats sheet, tallying 22 possessions, ten marks nine inside 50s and three score assists.
“The stuff that doesn’t get spoken about is his defensive work rate and a lot of his pressure, so I thought he was super again,” Sydney ruckman Callum Sinclair told Swans TV.
With Sinclair bagging three goals, and two each to forwards, Sam Reid, Tom Papley ,Will Hayward and Gary Rohan, Franklin had enormous support in the scoring department.
“No doubt we need to make sure we have a spread going forward,” Swans’coach John Longmire said.
“Lance still had nine inside 50, so it’s not always about (him) hitting the scoreboard.
“When he’s up the ground he provides opportunities for others as well.”
Longmire will be hoping Reid’s thigh injury late in the game won’t prevent him from playing against the Western Bulldogs at Etiahd Stadium next Saturday.
Returning from injury to play his first game of the season, Reid provided a significant aerial presence up forward.
“He (Reid) was good tonight, he provided a real target for us in our front half,” Longmire said.
Another strong contributor to Sydney’s winning effort was reliable midfielder-forward George Hewett, who shut down in-form Giants speedster Lachie Whitfield.
“He did a pretty good job George, he was really disciplined he could not have done much better,,” Longmire said.
Connolly
Guest
The headline should read "Buddy overcomes GWS and Longmire". The coach brilliantly plays the best big forward since Ablett Snr as a wingman, passing the ball to Reid who can't kick on his left foot. The Swans butchered a glut of first half possession in the forward line in the first half with Buddy playing up the ground, with a congested forward line. It took the genius of Buddy despite the strategic mistakes of a plodding coach to seal the game from sixty metres out. Once again Franklin brilliantly overcame the opposition and his own coach.
Angela
Guest
This is weird, my comment - 'AFL continues to takeover Sydney', I'm referring to Sydney the capital of NSW, not Sydney the football team. AFL gets bigger, more enthusiastic crowds (when the Swans are playing at least) than NRL and soccer. Doh...
Mitcher
Guest
That Internet forum comment really stung you didn’t it.
themadchatter
Guest
Yeah Roger you totally make sense. Sydney exists to make Port look good and not for the 4 points on offer.
Angela
Guest
Sure. What's your point?
Brendon the 1st
Guest
That loss to Port at home really stung didn't it, Sydney were simply beaten by the better team on the day.
Swannie
Guest
Buddy Franklin and his premiership dynasty is arriving at the swans this season New South Wales dominates afl football
Angela
Guest
I know it's easy to diss umpires but there definitely were a few Swan marks that should have been paid and weren't. Never mind a great match, great result and the SCG was humming, thought the roof would fly off where I was sitting. And the awed, thunderous applause for that GWS goal thwarted by one of our players right at the goal post was hair-raising. AFL continues to takeover Sydney.
Roger of Sydney
Guest
A good win after making Port look far better than they are. I dont think you can underestimate how much Heeny moves the ball around, he is a real key to Swans success. Having said that GWS will be in the finals somewhere as will the Swans. Buddy was well held but the umpire did not exactly help with some of his marks that were not paid either.