Swans young gun Will Hayward following in Franklin’s footsteps

LANCE Franklin will get the lion’s share of the attention from the GWS defence on Saturday but if the Giants don’t pay attention to Will Hayward they are likely to get bitten on the backside.

GWS will leave themselves open to an attack from the sharpest shooter of the 2016 AFL draft if they persist with their plan to try and shut down Sydney spearhead Lance Franklin.

Phil Davis and the Giants’ defence will be tasked with stopping the Swans’ ferocious forward line in Saturday afternoon’s elimination final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

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Swans young gun Will Hayward’s impressive rise to prominence was highlighted last month when he became the 11th youngest player in history to reach 50 goals.

At just 19 years, nine months and 23 days old, the South Australian took just 38 games to reach the half-century mark.

And he did it in style by kicking the final goal in the Swans’ 20-point win over the Giants at Spotless Stadium.

Sydney's Will Hayward on burst against Hawthorn at the SCG last month. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Franklin was three months younger than Hayward when he completed the feat in his second year at Hawthorn in 2006.

But, compared to his goalkicking contemporaries at other clubs, Hayward is light-years ahead.

He reached the mark before reigning Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt, Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston and Luke Breust and even Geelong’s Tom Hawkins.

Lance Franklin takes part in a handball drill before Saturday’s elimination final at the SCG.

Hayward is another of Sydney recruiting guru Kinnear Beatson’s specials. He was taken with the 21st pick of the 2016 draft and no one from that class has come close to his goalkicking exploits.

West Coast’s Willie Rioli has 25 goals from his first two years in the AFL, ahead of Port Adelaide’s Sam Powell-Pepper (21), Gold Coast’s Ben Ainsworth (20) and Swans teammate Ollie Florent (13).

Apart from Florent, the class of 2016 don’t have All-Australian captain Franklin guiding them.

“Buddy has been awesome for me,” Hayward said.

“Ever since I got to the club he’s shown me the ropes and helped me a lot with my forward craft.

Lance Franklin has “first-class leadership qualities”. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Sydney's Will Hayward handballs under pressure. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“His direction on game day and the education he gives off the field in reviews and team meetings is great and how approachable he is as well really helps.”

Franklin’s appointment as captain of this year’s All-Australian team shocked a lot of pundits, but Hayward said Buddy’s leadership ability was often overlooked by people outside the football club.

“I think it (Franklin’s leadership) definitely gets under recognised,” Hayward said.

“But his leadership qualities are really first class and when he speaks we listen. He’s really influential like that.”

YOUNGEST TO 50 GOALS (CURRENT PLAYERS)

LANCE FRANKLIN: 19 years 6 months 27 days (33 games)

WILL HAYWARD: 19 years 9 months 23 days (38 games)

Jack Riewoldt: 20 years 8 months 26 days (41 games)

Jack Gunston: 20 years 10 months 9 days (29 games)

Tom Hawkins: 21 years 25 days (39 games)

Luke Breust: 21 years 7 months 18 days (29 games)

Josh Kennedy: 22 years 7 months 2 days (46 games)

Ben Brown: 22 years 10 months 6 days (33 games)

Originally published as Swans young gun Will Hayward following in Franklin’s footsteps