Past #23 Buddy Franklin - Thanks Buddy

[Kennedy Parker]

Lance Franklin
Lance Franklin is a giant of the game. The star Sydney Swans forward has played 300 AFL games, won two premierships with Hawthorn, is the seventh-greatest goal-kicker in VFL/AFL history, is one of just five men with eight All Australian blazers and is the most recent player to have kicked 100 goals in a season. The Western Australian is also one of just two players in the game’s history, along with former Swan and Saint Tony Lockett

Tony Lockett

Age

58

Ht

191cm

Wt

108kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.2

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

1.8

2star

M

6.3

5star

T

0.5

3star

G

4.8

5star

No current season stats available

D

8.2

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.6

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.0

1star

G

1.4

5star

, to have booted 300 goals for two clubs. Franklin was added to a leadership group for the first time in his career ahead of season 2020, joining co-captains Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker

26

Luke Parker

Age

32

Ht

183cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.2

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.8

5star

D

22.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

9.9

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

5.0

5star

CL

5.5

5star

D

21.2

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

8.0

5star

CL

5.2

5star

and Dane Rampe

24

Dane Rampe

Age

34

Ht

187cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.0

4star

K

10.6

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

2.5

4star

MG

358.8

5star

D

14.1

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

5.1

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

284.5

4star

D

10.6

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.4

4star

, as well as Callum Mills

14

Callum Mills

Age

27

Ht

188cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.6

3star

D

18.4

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

3.4

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.4

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.8

5star

CL

1.2

4star

. But the 33-year-old, who was named captain of the 2018 All Australian team, has long been considered an exceptional unofficial leader, so great is his impact on Will Hayward

9

Will Hayward

Age

26

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

9.0

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.7

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.4

5star

, Nick Blakey

22

Nick Blakey

Age

24

Ht

196cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.9

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

2.9

3star

M

2.3

2star

T

2.4

4star

MG

189.1

3star

D

8.1

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.6

4star

MG

189.1

3star

D

7.2

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.2

2star

T

1.2

3star

, Ben Ronke

25

Ben Ronke

Age

27

Ht

183cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.7

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

3.3

2star

M

2.0

2star

T

3.7

4star

G

0.0

1star

D

13.2

4star

K

9.8

4star

HB

3.4

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

5.2

5star

G

2.4

5star

and the rest of Sydney’s young forwards.

Lance Franklin
DOB: 30 January 1987
DEBUT: 2005
DRAFT: #5, 2004 National Draft
RECRUITED FROM: Dowerin (WA)/Perth (WAFL)/Hawthorn

Lance Franklin | AFL

Follow Lance Franklin's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Punts]

he was giving away frees so aliir didn’t run a create , that’s probably the sadest part of the other night

Won’t be any easier against say a Moore or balta where they run an carry

I still think he will have cameos this season

 

[WillHayward]

I think Buddys manager tried to bluff saying he would go elsewhere if he didn't get a one year deal.

Swans probably should have called that bluff.last year.

Now both parties in an awkward situation because Buddy wanted some more money that he doesn't really need.

 

[Mister B]

I think Buddys manager tried to bluff saying he would go elsewhere if he didn't get a one year deal.

Swans probably should have called that bluff.last year.

Now both parties in an awkward situation because Buddy wanted some more money that he doesn't really need.

or, and hear me out here, he genuinely believed after kicking over 50 goals and playing most games last season, he still had something to offer. Crazy thought I know.

 

[The King!]

yeah lot of people who pissed their pants he might go to brisbane are pensioning him off after 3 games

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I think the big Champ is addicted to playing. He just loves the game so much. Hanging up the boots will be a sad day for him. I reckon play on and take his breaks and work on his fitness on the week off.

Strange days. In the one week people are trying to retire two of our players.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Probably should have posted the below here. So will do so now…


Thinking about the Buddy situation another way, does anyone truly think we are a premiership threat this year with Buddy in the forward line?

If the answer no, then there is no reason to play him, even if you think (a) he is still is one of our top talls and (b) you think the team plays better as a whole with Buddy in the team.

I know some are also saying to play him up the ground on the wing, but he can no longer keep up with a full back running out of the defence, let alone an opposition winger who runs all day - he would get slaughtered on the wing. This is before considering that he struggles to mark above his head and he can barely step past players in open play anymore - so how exactly is he going to find space on the wing to use field kicking strength?

I’ll ram the point home even stronger; if I am the opposition coach I am brimming with glee if Buddy is picked. It means the Swans will play predictable lazy football centred around a player who is no longer up to the job of playing superstar when players kick it on his head. No only that, buddy will also be a liability for the swans when my team transitions from defence to attack, he will give away silly frees, and will barely receive frees when they are there. My key defender is going to look awesome (look at Aliir), walk taller and grow the confidence of his team mates (who will seeing him slaying the best forward of a generation). What’s not to love?

I’m sorry to go so hard, but I feel like people are holding onto Buddy of the past. He is a 6ft 6inch 37 year old who’s strengths were his athleticism, long kick and hyper competitiveness. His first two strengths are largely gone and his third strength is now just as likely to be a liability.

As I’ve said before, it is full credit to the man that there is even debate whether he should play, but I just can’t see the point. I’d love to be wrong have people throw this post in my face when he carries us to a premiership this year, but even this sentence feels silly as a write it. Sorry.

 

[BloodySwan]

If Buddy is still taking the best defender then I don't see the major issue. He's shown he can't be the monster full forward but he an be the distraction who pops up for 2 goals.

Play Buddy, just don't keep him at FF

 

[Punts]

If Buddy is still taking the best defender then I don't see the major issue. He's shown he can't be the monster full forward but he an be the distraction who pops up for 2 goals.

Play Buddy, just don't keep him at FF

I agree but they still play him deep , doesn’t look like they will change it or can’t

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

I agree but they still play him deep , doesn’t look like they will change it or can’t

Yep, this is the problem.

It’s a combo of Buddy demanding the ball when he shouldn’t, Buddy running into other’s lines (Amartey reportedly gave him a talking to after one play), but mostly every other Swan blindly kicking it to buddy like moths towards a light, when they know he is not a great overhead mark and often has more than one defender on him. It’s very strange and frustrating to see.

 

[Tedeski]

Buddy WAS a superstar.

 

[Punts]

Buddy WAS a superstar.

I can’t remember the year

Reckon it was 14

We were playing gws at the scg and I was sitting on the hff amd he roved it off a throw in and kicked it from 55 or so but to see a bloke that big move/rove at full speed like that was plain bullshit

Was also at the port game where he won of his own boot

Remember when he kicked that goal from 60 on the boundary against gws at there ground and the sound of the boot

Fuxk he was so good

 

[The King!]

Probably should have posted the below here. So will do so now…


Thinking about the Buddy situation another way, does anyone truly think we are a premiership threat this year with Buddy in the forward line?

If the answer no, then there is no reason to play him, even if you think (a) he is still is one of our top talls and (b) you think the team plays better as a whole with Buddy in the team. .

What if we apply that to everyone

We winning a flag with this coach?

 

[sataris]

What if we apply that to everyone

We winning a flag with this coach?

If we apply it to everyone,

Are we winning a flag with me as a supporter?

 

[The King!]

If we apply it to everyone,

Are we winning a flag with me as a supporter?

Depends what position you are in?

 

[sataris]

Depends what position you are in?

I'm your long lost son.

 

[Kennedy Parker]

I'm your long lost son.

That makes you The Prince!

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

What if we apply that to everyone

We winning a flag with this coach?

Pretty sure the coach is coaching next year. Buddy ain’t and the other talls will.

So if we don’t think we can win a premiership with him in the best 22 this year, then there is no point in playing him.

 

[The King!]

Pretty sure the coach is coaching next year. Buddy ain’t and the other talls will.

So if we don’t think we can win a premiership with him in the best 22 this year, then there is no point in playing him.

time will tell

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

time will tell

I’d love to be wrong. I thought we were no chance halfway through last year and was way off.

 

[bloodsbigot]

Look, all I'm reading is that the most valuable
contribution he's making is that he draws the best defender every week.

Then we should just use him as a full time decoy. Otherwise just Ryan O'Keefe him. He missed two gettable momentum swinging goals against Melbourne, and that was the last straw for me.

 

[The King!]

he has played 1 poor game out of the 3

 

[Nuggetz]

He's taken the best defender but he's also been beaten comprehensively by him more often than not.

You can use Buddy as a decoy or further up the field but I don't think the defender or opposition coaches would care. They would just let him roam relatively free outside the forward 50.

 

[MF]

If Buddy is still taking the best defender then I don't see the major issue. He's shown he can't be the monster full forward but he an be the distraction who pops up for 2 goals.

Play Buddy, just don't keep him at FF

And don't kick it to him more than the rest of our other forwards combined.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

he has played 1 poor game out of the 3

Wish I had you as my high school English teacher.

You’re a very generous marker.

 

[Superstar swan]

Wish I had you as my high school English teacher.

You’re a very generous marker.

Outside the first few minutes , he was average against the suns