There are some articles that are almost too sad to write.
They come with a heavy heart and no sense of joy or happiness. There’s no sense of schadenfreude or glee that sometimes comes with writing about a sport star’s downfall.
No, this is a lament. It’s a call to Lance Franklin, the great champion, the provider of wonderful moments of awe inspiring, jaw-gaping brilliance, to call time on his career.
I write as an unabashed fanboy, fanman actually, of over 60 years of age. I’ve loved his work even before he came to the Swans, but over 10 years I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him first hand. It was a great investment, repaid many times over, to bring him to Sydney. There’s been no premiership, it’s true, but three Grand Finals, countless bums on seats and dollars in the till, vast media coverage – these are great returns.
That’s all without even mentioning that night of the 1000 goals just 12 months ago, an unforgettable experience that went beyond sport and became a moment of transcendent, unspeakable joy in scenes of celebration.
Lance Franklin of the Swans celebrates kicking his 1000th AFL goal. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Which is why I felt so sad at the SCG against Port Adelaide last night. I watched Lance trying hard but not having an impact. He couldn’t get near the ball when it came in the air and he had to give away free kicks to stop his opponents sweeping the ball away without hindrance.
The best you could say is that he gave a contest and brought the ball to ground a number of times, but that’s a journeyman player’s return, not Lance Franklin, greatest forward in the game.
Seeing him pass off a possible shot at goal on the 50m line then shank a straightforward kick on the three-quarter time siren, it was a hard watch.
Truth be told, it’s not an isolated tough game. Against Melbourne last week it was twice clear that he could no longer kick goals from 50m, and now when the ball hits the ground he seems to have lost that ability to break tackles and set himself for a shot on goal.
He draws the ball still, twice as much as any other Swans forward 50 target, but without the returns. It’s no coincidence that the Swans could have 22 more inside 50s than Port Adelaide and end up losing; it’s not just about bad delivery or kicking high balls to a contest.
There’s no obvious replacement who can kick bags of goals repeatedly – how could anyone replace the greatest forward in recent history? No one knows whether Joel Amartey and Logan McDonald will be good enough to take the Swans to a flag – the jury’s still out on that, with one romp against an undermanned Hawthorn not enough evidence to go on. But they have to be handed the keys to the forward line.
Could Bud play up the ground, as David King and others have suggested? He’s a great field kick, true, but on the evidence of this year it’s debatable whether he has the pace to be a winner there.
Which brings me back to the sad thought, that it’s time to let go.
They say you should never write off a champion. True, but for all there comes a time.
We are seeing it with David Warner in cricket, and now it seems with the Bud. Perhaps Lance’s 1000 goals night was the equivalent of David Warner’s 200 at the MCG, a last grand hurrah that reminds us of their long-term greatness, but a moment destined to be never repeated.
Both have played on since, as is their right as champions, but as a fan who wants to remember the great times, it’s time to say goodbye.
Willie
Roar Rookie
Sometimes great champions can become something of a psychological crutch for fellow players, coaches, administrators and fans. Yet, history has shown that often the moving on of a great champion can result in the team pulling together harder, and finding a new way forward. The AFL community does a very good job at remembering and celebrating its past champions which Buddy can look forward to for the rest of his life.
dargerovitch
Roar Rookie
Wasn't Buddy given a ten year contract when he joined the Swans? As a Hawks supporter super-grateful for the nine years he'd given Hawthorn i thought at the time ten years was at least one if not two years too long. But he's contracted and that's why he's still being selected and still playing. The Swans could always not select him but they'd have to keep paying him.
Saint Jack
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: Sad but true.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Puerile :sick:
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Poo and wee are bodily wastes
.kraM
Roar Rookie
My personal favourite
.kraM
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t go so far as selfish as I’m sure it would be hard to give it up and you’re a long time retired. But if he continues on the same trajectory, I wouldn’t be surprised if he retires mid season. Would love him playing ressies though :laughing:
.kraM
Roar Rookie
And I would argue Bud looks way worse but it’s obviously a bit different when comparing the two in terms of stature.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
But what's wrong with you using your own integrity to stop the rot? Free Choice is overrated. Look at the mess America has gotten itself into with free choice? As the great Dylan sung; "Even the birds are chained to the sky"
Angela
Roar Rookie
Mmm, just trying to make the point that Rampe and Greene are thinking and planning ahead for the time they give up the game - all power to them.
Nick
Roar Rookie
It's not a massive ego. It's actually everyone else enabling the behaviour. You've suggested Buddy has an ego, but then correctly (but clearly unintentionally) pivoted to others being the problem by not dropping him. I don't like Warner. But he's not got that big an ego. Nor Buddy. What they instead have is existence in a system where positive reinforcement is taken to unhealthy levels. And no one publicly or privately is willing to sit down with them and tell them that hard truth...either because they are scared to be the one to say it, or (possibly with Horse) blind to reality. Warner has teammates that are never going to tell him he should give it away. He's got a manager who is financially incentivised to ensure Warner keeps playing and so is going to big him up. His family, of course, are going to be supportive. He's got 3 selectors who will not drop him. He's got an administration that just gave him another contract. He's got a largely sympathetic media and past player fraternity who are consistently backing him in. Ricky Ponting is the only one who has publicly questioned whether Warner should still play. Everyone else, without exception, "backs him to come good". So, with your whole circle telling you you are still good, of course Warner is going to think it, and of course he will still play.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
@ Loosey. I’m a long time Bloods supporter, and Buddy should have retired at the end of last season. He’s fast becoming a liability inside 50, and is stopping McDonald and Amartey from developing. A selfish move playing on when he’s past it …
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Like he did with Ryan O’Keefe early in 2014, after he had won the Norm Smith in a Premiership side in 2012. By 2014 Pebbles looked like he was running on the spot, like Buddy does now …
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
It's massive ego that stops them from retiring when they should. Yet great players taint their legacies playing on when Father Time has caught up with them. Buddy's a liability now, constantly giving away free kicks and being targeted in deep 50 while the Swans players continue to ignore McDonald and Amartey. Very strange that Horse Longmire and the Sydney coaching staff can't see what everyone else can. I reckon they're trying to get him to 350 games, but at the expense of the team. Delusional ...
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Footballers and commerce degrees. Such a lack of imagination and creativity ...
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Buddy should have retired at the end of last season. And if not Sydney should not have renewed his contract. Horse seems too enamored of Buddy to drop him, which he should. He certainly had no problems ending Ryan O'Keefe's career, 2 seasons after he won the Norm Smith in a Bloods Premiership. Paddy McCartin should also retire, but for different reasons. His future life is most likely already ruined because of 10 concussions. I feel very sad for him. Buddy just needs to bow out gracefully now and let Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey have a good run at it ...
Nick
Roar Rookie
A wise call when you consider how the careers of Vettel, Alonso and now Hamilton petered out
Nick
Roar Rookie
Like I said, it's up to others to stop picking them. As long as they are getting picked, it's entirely natural for them to believe that they are still performing at a high level. The selectors are positively reinforcing (and enabling) that mentality. Don't blame the players for that
Megeng
Roar Rookie
My favourite was Nico Rosberg. He got the F1 world championship and just quit, saying he didn't want to atrophy behind the wheel.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
At this point all l can see is Warner’s and Buddy’s ego. I like Sydney as a team but Buddy is letting other’s down. That push the other day on the last gasp play was really beneath Buddy’s and rather a sign that hurdles are being clipped