Eager apprentices follow Master Buddy
Adrian Warren
AAP, The Australian, August 17

Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin’s leadership of Sydney’s young and inexperienced forward line is earning plenty of praise from his eager apprentices.

At age 29 and with 241 games and 773 goals to his name, Franklin is far and away the most senior and proven member of the second-placed Swans’ forward half.

He has more games and goals than all the other regular members of the Swans’ attack combined, most of whom are not specialist forwards.

That list includes a trio of 20-year-olds in their breakthrough years as seniors — Tom Papley (14 games, 19 goals) and George Hewett (18, 13) and second-year star Isaac Heeney (32, 40).

Xavier Richards, 23, (6, 9) has been another recent youthful addition to the attack, with Gary Rohan 25, (73, 57) also adding impact to the forward line.

All have benefited from the towering presence of Franklin, who is second in the Coleman Medal race on 70 goals, three behind West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy.

Hewett says Franklin’s influence extends well beyond his impact on the scoreboard. “He’s a very talented player, but I just think his leadership has been huge this year, especially because we’ve got such a young forward line,” Hewett said.

“He’s been massive in that perspective and he’s been really good this year.”

It's free-Lance Buddy for this finals season
Ben Horne
Daily Telegraph, August 17

Swans superstar Lance Franklin has been handed an unprecedented licence to roam free this finals series.

The superstar goal-scorer might have always presented as a forward, but Sydney want him featuring heavily in their midfield as well when the premiership goes on the line.

All forwards can go through quiet periods where they’re frozen out of matches, but coach John Longmire wants to ensure one of the most influential players in AFL history is in the game from first bounce to the final siren.

Hawthorn and Sydney have used Franklin in this versatile capacity in the past, but only ever in dispatches.

When the 29-year-old ventured through the middle of the field in last week’s thrashing of St Kilda he had an extraordinary 15 possessions in one quarter and finished the match with 28 disposals — a near career best.

Franklin’s famous boot will be crucial come September, but the Swans are determined to permanently unleash him as a playmaker who can also create other avenues to goal.

“It does give us a different look in the forward line,” said Swans head of football, and former AFL premiership winner, Tom Harley.

“The most important thing is we function as a forward group.

“To have 15 possessions in a quarter is quite unique for anyone, let alone a key forward, so we know he can do that.

“He’s one of those forwards that has a few different layers to him. He can move up the ground because he’s athletic.

“He’s obviously a nice kick for goal, but he’s a really nice field kick as well and he’s shown over his career his ability to involve others in scoring plays and he can be very much a provider as much as the one who kicks the goal.

“It’s important we have a bit of flexibility and variety in our front half and him being the most experienced player in that group, plays a pretty pivotal role in all that.”

Tippett return sets Goldstein huge ruck task
James Buckley
SMH, August 17

With Kurt Tippett's return imminent and Sam Naismith in super form, spare a thought for North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein this weekend.

He's the man tasked with trying to keep a lid on one of the Swans' biggest superstars and one of their youngest when the Kangaroos square off against Sydney in Hobart on Saturday.

Tippett hasn't played since injuring his hamstring in round 12, but he's close to full fitness and only needs to get through training on Thursday to ensure his place against North Melbourne.

Naismith will likely start in the ruck with Tippett to be eased back through the forward line, although he'll still shoulder his share of the work against Goldstein.

"He's really found a new lease on life this year, hasn't he," Goldstein said of Tippett.

"I imagine they'll probably keep Naismith in probably for this week especially so it's going to definitely be a difficult task, he's been playing some pretty good footy the last month.

"With him and Kurt rotating it'll give them a massive boost and it'll probably even help them having him forward, it'll give them another avenue."

Swans rolling out Buddy 2.0
Andrew Wu
SMH, August 16

We have had the remaking of Lance Franklin off the field, and now we could be seeing an on-field transformation.

Sydney's superstar has reaffirmed his standing as the game's pre-eminent forward but it's a different Franklin that has emerged compared to the one who has terrorised opposition defences for the past decade.

Franklin's dominant performance against St Kilda, where he kicked six goals to go with 28 disposals, has shone the spotlight on his modified role, but it's one he has been playing for much of this season.

Instead of being the Swan closest to goal on the final line of their press, Franklin is now pushing further up the ground and playing almost as a hybrid midfielder. It's no surprise he is winning a higher proportion of his possessions in the midfield this season than ever.

Since round eight he has collected 36 per cent of his possessions in the forward 50, and in the past six games it's even lower at 34 per cent. Those numbers are well down on his career mark of 51 per cent.

It's a strategy that most coaches cannot use with their star goalkicker but one that suits the Swans because of Franklin's athleticism and skills. With Lewis Jetta and Nick Malceski leaving in the past two seasons, Franklin is clearly the best kicker at the club.

So well does he use the ball, it would take a brave coach prepared to let Franklin run free in exchange for having an extra number in defence. On the flipside, there are not many key defenders with the speed and agility to run with Franklin.

Another bonus for the Swans is it lessens their scoring dependence on the three-time Coleman Medal winner and makes them less predictable.

The hot Tippett is Kurt will be back for Swans
Ben Horne
Daily Telegraph, August 16