Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin says he'll be fine for grand final

HAWTHORN ace Lance Franklin today shrugged off any doubts over his elbow injury in the build up to the AFL Grand Final.

Lance Franklin

HAWTHORN ace Lance Franklin today shrugged off any doubts over his elbow injury in the build up to the AFL Grand Final.

Franklin didn't have any bandage or strapping on the right elbow during recovery with teammates at Waverley Park.

"Awesome" was the gun goalkicker's description when asked how he was feeling following the five-point win against Geelong only 12 hours earlier.

"It's always good after an exciting win. I don't think anyone feels any injuries after winning a prelim (final) and getting ourselves into a grand final," he said.

"It was just an unbelievable experience last night that I'll never forget."

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Franklin left the field cradling the arm after it was accidentally wrenched by teammate David Hale in a contest in the first half, but he reckons he's in no doubt for next Saturday's shot at a second premiership.

"It was a little bit sore. The big Hale storm hit me a little bit hard. But I got checked by the doctors and was all right to play out the game and I'm just looking forward to the grand final," he said.

"No (damage), I'm good to go. I just want to get out there."

Unlucky forward Brendan Whitecross wasn't expecting the same positive news after he appeared to suffer serious knee damage in the last quarter.

Franklin indicated the Hawks were resigned to losing Whitecross for the grand final.

"He's a big part of the footy club. To see such a great player and great person go down with a serious knee injury is devastating," he said.

"He's here today which shows the character of the guy, to be here after hurting his knee demonstrates what a quality person he is to have around the footy club. All the boys are getting around him."

Fellow key forward Jarryd Roughead said the Hawks were aware of Geelong's third quarter surges, but also had the confidence that they were the best last quarter team in the competition.

"We knew the game was going to go up and down. The last times we've played them we've seen five-minute patches for either team could almost win you the game," Roughead said.

"There was a grand final at stake and we knew we had to come good in that last quarter and we did. We're one of the better last-quarter sides in the comp and it was good to do it again."