Trio flies during Buddy’s absence
IT DIDN’T matter how many goals Will Hayward kicked, he was always going to revert to second fiddle when Lance Franklin returned to lead Sydney’s orchestra.
But that didn’t stop the Swans’ forwards letting Franklin know they handled the load pretty well without him.
“I think I heard Bennie Ronke say to Buddy ‘ you’ll be struggling to get a game if I’m kicking seven every week’,” Hayward said.
Ronke had a breakout game against Hawthorn, kicking seven goals in an upset win.
But Hayward wasn’t to be outdone, producing three- goal hauls in three consecutive matches to help the Swans deal with Franklin’s absence due to a heel injury.
“There is always a spot for Buddy obviously,” Hayward said.
Hayward and Ronke almost had the chance to run the show on their own again when Franklin came under scrutiny for his accidental elbow to the jaw of Fremantle defender Joel Hamling. But he was given the all clear to play the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba tomorrow.
As well as the duo performed in Franklin’s absence, Hayward is over the moon to be able to line up alongside the Coleman Medallist again this weekend.
“He’s unbelievable,” Hayward said. “He takes you under his wing. Even when he wasn’t playing he would come into the rooms and talk to us. He always has an insight and his knowledge of the game is second to none. Whether he’s playing or not he’s a great person to have around the club.”
Franklin’s three- week absence created opportunities in the Swans’ forward line which youngsters like Hayward, Ronke and Tom Papley have taken. The mantra for the explosive trio is “pressure your opponents and the goals will come”.
“There’s no competition ( for goals),” Hayward said. “All we want is to win the game overall and play our brand of footy.”
“Everyone has their day, Ben had his a couple of weeks ago, Paps played well on the weekend, it’s about getting the four points.”
The Swans will look to keep their four game unbeaten run on the road going when they take on the rejuvenated Lions.
“It’s about playing consistent footy whether it’s here or away,” Hayward said.