Franklin Suffering Massive Hangover

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Franklin Suffering Massive Hangover Jason Dunstall 4 June, 2009 - 5:43 PM

Matt Holcomb from Kew asks:

Hi Jason,
I'm a Hawthorn member, and I think I speak for a lot of fellow members and supporters when I say that Lance Franklin has turned in too many sub-par performances this year, his most recent a case in point.
Yes, I know he's a marked man, and that the Scarletts, Gibsons and Boks of the world are never going let our man Lance have his own way.

At the risk of sounding like other disgruntled supporters and Franklin critics, I think Lance is currently playing a predictable verging on nonchalant brand of football, and as long as he lacks the eye of the tiger, Hawthorn is not going to win too many games, much less back-to-back flags, even with Hodge, Croad and Gilham back in the side.

The great players of team sports seem to reinvent themselves to ensure their impact is never diminished. Michael Jordan is the first who comes to mind. After Jordan established himself as the NBA's most consistently dominant offensive player, the coaches of opposing teams sought to diminish his influence by making sure he was always double- and triple-teamed.

But rather than become a victim, Jordan thought laterally and reinvented himself as one of the great defensive players, which ensured that his influence, his impact, was as great as his talent.
The great ones always find a way. What's stopping Lance Franklin?

Regards,
Matt Holcomb

Matt,

I agree that Buddy hasn't reached anywhere near the heights of his sensational 2008 season. Whilst last season was an incredible break out year for him I think we must also be mindful that he is still only 22 and probably, hopefully, still to reach his peak years. Having said that, an interrupted pre-season, loss of confidence and opposition team strategies have combined to reduce his output, along with the fact that plenty of his team-mates are in the same boat. Fingers crossed that a really big game, and a return to good form, is only just around the corner.

Cheers
Chief.

Grant Brooks from Mildura asks:

Chief my questions is. Is Shane Crawford in danger of being remembered as "That idiot who did all those stupid stunts on the Footy Show" rather than a premiership and Brownlow winner champ?

Grant,

Crawf's footy exploits will never be forgotten: p'ship player, 4-time B&F and Brownlow medal. There has to be life after football however and Crawf has chosen the entertainment industry. At times he will be asked to play any number of different roles, including attempting strange world records on the footy show. He is not one to rest on past glories but I believe HFC fans and all footy supporters will forever remember him as a champion player.

All the best
Chief.

Tate Papworth from Beenleigh asks:

Chief,

Could you please inform me as to what the definition of a merger is? A few weeks ago Daniel Bradshaw broke the goal kicking record at Brisbane. It seems that Bears records are still counted but Fitzroy ones are not as Alastair Lynch kicked over 600. This is not a proper merger. Whats the deal? Also North have closed level 3 of the Dome this week. Why should the AFL continue to support a club the public clearly do not?

Tate,

I never viewed Brisbane and Fitzroy as a true merger however I'm relieved for the sake of Fitzroy fans that there was an attachment to Brisbane i.e. the 'Lions' name living on and a number of players joining the list to allow Fitzroy to theoretically exist after it's financial demise. However, Brisbane as an entity will have statistics that apply only to the era that was and is the Brisbane Bears/Lions. Fortunately the wonderful records set by so many champion Fitzroy players will remain forever in the official AFL history books. They can never be erased.

North closed the top level of the dome in an effort to reduce the financial stress of playing games against interstate teams at that venue. I suspect this couldn't be done without the approval of the AFL and the stadium operators. The AFL will continue to support all clubs in order to maintain (and increase) the number of available games for the next broadcast rights deal.

Cheers,
Chief.