Port Adelaide to take a ‘team’ approach to stopping Sydney superstar Lance Franklin

PORT Adelaide has lauded Sydney superstar Lance Franklin, saying he is getting better with age and declaring it will take more than one man to stop him at the SCG on Sunday.

Sydney’s Lance Franklin celebrates one of his eight goals against West Coast on Sunday. Picture: Will Russell (AFL Media/Getty Images).

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PORT Adelaide has lauded Sydney Lance Franklin, saying he is getting better with age and declaring it will take more than one man to stop him at the SCG on Sunday.

While Power full back Tom Clurey has a good head-to-head record against the seven-times All-Australian, senior assistant coach Matthew Nicks said curbing his matchwinning influence will be a team job.

“He’s in amazing form and keeps getting better, it seems,’’ Nicks said of “Buddy’’ Franklin, who was the star of round one with eight goals in the Swans’ 29-point win against West Coast in Perth.

“He’s a very hard match-up at the best of times but at the moment he’s in rare form. He’s a super-hard match-up, so we’ll have to do it as a team.’’

Tom Clurey gets a kick away under pressure from Fremantle’s Darcy Tucker. Picture Sarah Reed

The vastly-improved Clurey has performed well on Franklin, who has kicked 868 goals in 272 games, in two serious match-ups, conceding just five goals to him.

In round 20, 2016, Franklin booted two goals on Clurey and in round one last year he kicked three.

“We haven’t made a decision on who (stands him) but it’s not as clear cut as what it might have been five-to-10 years ago when you just have a match-up, leave Clurey there and say ‘good luck’,’’ Nicks said.

“We do a lot of stuff with team defence and how we may be able to assist in that role.

“Nathan Bassett (defensive coach) is looking into that and he’ll make a decision over the next few days and we’ll try to structure something up that will work.

“We’ll back in our back six, we’re more than happy with way Clurey’s gone about his footy over the past couple of years and he’s a hard defender to beat, so it will be a match-up we look at.

“But you’ve got to look at team defence too because Sydney moved the ball at speed on the weekend to give him (Franklin) opportunities in space. They are a super team.’’

Port will regain triple club champion Robbie Gray from suspension for the clash of two unbeaten sides.

But it must find a replacement for All-Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder, whose old Achilles injury flared in Saturday’s 50-point win against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval.

The Power said yesterday Ryder is set to miss at least the next month.

Dougal Howard at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Nicks said the Power has young options in the untried Billy Frampton, Peter Ladhams and Sam Hayes.

Impressive young centre half-back Dougal Howard could also pinch-hit in the ruck, although Nicks said the club likes what he offers in defence.

“He’s got ruck experience but we are reluctant (to use him there) because we really like what he is giving us down back,’’ he said.

“He’s part of a seven-man backline and was a really important part of that backline on the weekend, finishing with 22 spoils. He’s got closing speed that we like.’’

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