Swans veteran Ted Richards has commended Lance Franklin for his selflessness in Saturday night’s four goal haul against Adelaide.

Franklin has started the season in blistering fashion with four goals in each of his first four games so far.

The last time the star forward started the season with consecutive four-goal hauls over the first four rounds of the year was in his former team Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership season.

Richards said the work rate of Franklin has been widely acknowledged amongst his teammates.

“I don’t think people are talking enough about how unselfish Buddy has been this season,” Richards told Radio Sport National.

“He was probably within his right to have a couple of extra shots on the weekend and he gave Kurt Tippett a goal on a platter for example.

“Buddy is more than playing his role at the moment.”

The defender said it was important his side continued to remain versatile from week to week.

“The best forward lines are the ones that aren’t reliant on one guy and we can’t rely on Buddy to kick four goals each week,” Richards said.

“I think we have been more dangerous this year than previous years as we have Isaac (Heeney), Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair down there.”

“We have got good options there and we are aware that we can’t just rely on Buddy to kick four goals each week.”

Richards said he was looking forward to a tough task of taking on the tall timber in West Coast’s forward line on Saturday afternoon.