Buddy’s shock pick
Eighth time round, Franklin named all-Australian captain
LANCE Franklin was last night crowned a shock AllAustralian captain as four Richmond premiership stars won selection.
The Sydney superstar earned his eighth All-Australian blazer after a season where he moved into the top 10 goalkickers in VFL-AFL history.
“To get those accolades you’ve obviously got to work bloody hard,” Franklin toldNews Corp.
“I feel like over my career I’ve worked to become the player I’ve wanted to become. “It means a lot.” Franklin, 31, has now played four All-Australian seasons at both Hawthorn and Sydney as he joined fellow eight-time selections Gary Ablett Sr, Gary Ablett Jr, Robert Harvey and Mark Riccuito.
Franklin missed Round 23 with a groin problem but declared he was a certain starter for next week’s elimination final against GWS.
“Prior to the GWS game (Round 22) I’d spent three weeks on the track. That actually helped getting out there and being a part of it.
“It’s been a frustrating year to not be a part of the group and run around with the boys.
“As Horse (coach John Longmire) said I only trained for 20 minutes the whole season, up until the last couple of weeks. “But I’m feeling good.“West Coast skipper Shannon Hurn had been favoured to receive the All-Australian captaincy.
But while Hurn, 30 earned his first All-Australian selection on a halfback flank, selectors opted for Franklin, who is not in Sydney’s seven-man leadership group.
Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston earned his first All-Australian guernsey and said Grant Birchall was a chance to play his first game since 2017 in next week’s qualifying final.
“(Birchall) was out on the track doing some run through today, so fingers crossed he can get through,” Gunston said.
Suspended Eagles star Andrew Gaff was named on a wing and attended the Palais Theatre function, although was whisked past the media by an AFL official.
Gaff was a hot Brownlow chance until Round 20, when he broke Fremantle teenager Andrew Brayshaw’s jaw with a punch that cost him an eightweek suspension.
Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt and Tiger teammates Alex Rance, Dustin Martin and Shane Edwards were selected.
Rance has now won AllAustralian honours for five consecutive seasons and was named last year’s captain.
Selectors went against convention and chose two ruckmen with Melbourne’s Max Gawn named on the field and Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy on the bench.
Top four clubs Richmond, Hawthorn and West Coast provided 10 out of the 22 players.
Geelong jet Patrick Dangerfield was named Franklin’s vice-captain as the 2016 Brownlow Medallist got the nod for the sixth time in the past seven seasons.
North Melbourne veteran Shaun Higgins, 30, earned his first selection.
Eight players retained their position from last season — Rance, Rory Laird, Jeremy McGovern, Robbie Gray, Tom Mitchell, Martin, Dangerfield and Franklin.