Buddy eager for Hawks crack

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 A REJUVENATED Lance Franklin and the Swans’ return to form will reignite one of the AFL’s greatest modern-day rivalries when they take on Hawthorn next up.

The bye week arrives at the right time for the Swans, allowing the injury-dogged Franklin the chance to regroup after Sunday’s 45-point hammering of the West Coast Eagles before taking on his former club Hawthorn on June 21.

Sydney go into the Hawks clash hunting as a pack. The Swans forward line fired as a group against the Eagles. Having the firepower to kick 13 goals will put pressure on any defence.

Franklin and Tom Papley both kicked five goals against West Coast, while Sam Reid chipped in with three.

“It comes from the midfield getting on top and they were able to do that and then we just do our thing up forward,” Franklin, 32, said. “We want all different options up forward.”

Franklin’s return to top form is timely given the superstar has struggled to reproduce his best football against his old club.

Since joining the Swans in 2014, Franklin has kicked just 21 goals in nine games against Hawthorn, and Sydney have won just three of those clashes.

Franklin got the party started against the Eagles with a major inside the first minute and then completed the day by finding the target after the final siren for his 19th goal of the season. You can add 18 disposals and nine marks to that total.

“We played some really good football and scored over 100 points, which we hadn’t done for quite a while, so it was a good win,” Franklin said of Sunday’s victory.

At one stage, injuries left the Swans light on with bench options, and they had to dig deep.

“For us to grind out a win and score over 100 points with three down on the bench is just an amazing effort,” Franklin said. “We’ve always had confidence in what we do and in our ability, which is important. It was just about everyone playing consistent, a four-quarter effort.”