After a lean couple of weeks, Lance Franklin burst back into form with easily the best first half anyone has played this season.
As Sydney dominated Fremantle by 104 points at the SCG on Saturday afternoon, the superstar forward scored 28.5 in the AFL Player Ratings in the first half alone, before finishing with 32.2.
Franklin, 30, had booted just two goals in the fortnight leading into round 21.
Griffin Logue and former Bulldog Joel Hamling were assigned the job of keeping Franklin under control but neither stood much of a chance as the Swans ran rampant.
Hamling was very important in last year's Grand Final victory for the Western Bulldogs, helping keep Franklin to one goal in the decider.
'Buddy' had some measure of revenge though. In the opening two quarters, Franklin bagged four goals among his 14 disposals. He also laid three tackles and had a score assist.
The next-best first-half score this season was also achieved by Franklin, when he had 22 Player Ratings points after slotting five goals to the main break against the Brisbane Lions in round seven.
His game up to half-time against the Dockers was No.2 on the list of first-half performances since 2010. Leading that list is retiring Greater Western Sydney maestro Steve Johnson, which came about when he was at Geelong.
Johnson had 18 disposals, 15 score involvements, nine score assists, three contested marks and two goals in the first two quarters that day against Melbourne in round 19, 2011, for a Player Ratings score of 30.3.
Franklin's improved form came at the right time, with just two games left until finals, when the Swans will seek to avenge last season's loss in the decider.
