Swans v GWS: Lance Franklin tips young guns to stand tall in elimination final against Giants

WHEN Lance Franklin arrived in Sydney five years ago his leadership was something few people saw or valued. When they take on GWS at the SCG on Saturday it could be the difference between winning and losing.

SYDNEY’S most inexperienced forward line in more than two decades must stand up in the heat of finals footy against GWS at the SCG on Saturday - with Lance Franklin leading them.

When Franklin arrived in Sydney five years ago, he wasn’t viewed as a leader, but that’s exactly what he must take on in the elimination final at the SCG if the Swans are to stay alive in 2018.

No fewer than five Sydney players will make their finals debut — four in their front half.

“They’re babies, but are learning fast,” Franklin said.

Lance Franklin and his young forwards are ready to tackle GWS. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

“There is a genuine excitement they bring to me and the team. It lifts the team and me whenever one of the young blokes kicks a goal, and we get around each other and all celebrate.”

Tom McCartin, 18, Will Hayward, 19, Ollie Florent, 20, Ben Ronke, 20, and Dan Robinson, 24, will all be tasting September action for the first time.

The quartet of McCartin, Hayward, Florent and Ronke will be the most players under 22 the Swans have given a debut since the 1996 qualifying final.

In the 20-point win over GWS in round 22, Hayward became the first 19-year-old since Lance Franklin to kick 50 career goals for the Swans. He says playing and training alongside Buddy has fast-tracked his development.

“He’s a top dog of a young forward line, so he teaches us a lot of the stuff we know,” Hayward said.

The Swans’ young forwards have been the difference in at least three of their big wins in Franklin’s absence this year — Hayward has 28 goals this year, while Ronke has 23 — but whether they will be able to reproduce in the cauldron of finals footy remains to be seen.

GWS have their plans to counter the Buddy effect. Picture: AAP.

Franklin can clearly remember his first final 11 years ago when Hawthorn scraped home by three points in an elimination final against Adelaide in 2007.

He remembers his Hawks teammates telling him not to over-complicate things — and it still stands the test of time.

“The advice I got was to keep it simple,” Franklin said.

“Everyone has their own way of approaching finals but the main thing is that it’s another footy game and you go about them like it’s a normal game.”

Franklin’s 917 career goals place him eighth in the history of the game and he needs just nine more to draw level with Matthew Lloyd.

Opposite Franklin on Saturday will be Giants co-captain Phil Davis, whose fitness for the elimination final is critical to his side’s chances.

Phil Davis and his defenders are sure to be in for a busy time on Saturday.

When the pair faced each other in round 22, Davis limped off with a hip injury and Franklin went on to kick five goals.

“I have a couple of fundamental strategies I use against Buddy, but that is how I approach anyone,” Davis said.

“I also try to have a deep kit bag — if one thing doesn’t work, I can go to something else.”

Originally published as Swans v GWS: Lance Franklin tips young guns to stand tall in elimination final against Giants