Doug Wade predicts Lance Franklin will pass him on the AFL’s all-time goalkickers list

LANCE Franklin would need to play until 2025 to top Tony Lockett as the AFL’s greatest goalkicker of all-time. While that’s unlikely, how close can he get?

GEELONG champion Doug Wade predicts Lance Franklin will leapfrog him into fourth place on the list of the AFL’s all-time goalkickers.

Franklin again put his stunning array of tricks on show last week as he prepares for a potential match-up with star full back Alex Rance.

Only the Tigers’ decision to play David Astbury on the star can rob the game of its best forward and defender of this generation.

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Wade (1057 goals) is behind only Tony Lockett (1360), Gordon Coventry (1299), Jason Dunstall (1254), with Franklin on 819 majors.

If he continues with his goal scoring average of 3.2 goals at Sydney he will hit 1000 goals in Round 1, 2020.

Lance Franklin is in red hot form. Picture: Getty Images

He will pass Wade’s mark by Round 19, 2020 but would have to continue on until Round 4, 2025 to hit 1361 goals.

That won’t happen, but with five more years on his contract it would take a big injury setback for him not to overhaul Wade.

“I think he will get there, he has got a few more years on his contract,’’ Wade said.

“I love watching him. He’s a bit different to me because he has kicked a lot of goals playing up and around the ground, I kicked most of them from the front of the goalsquare but his goalkicking is just prodigious.

“(Him passing me) doesn’t worry me at all, I was the second ever after Coventry and then Dunstall and Ablett came and (Gary) Ablett (sr) is behind me.”

Champion Data’s calculations do not include finals, but Franklin has kicked at least 60 goals in nine of the past 10 seasons.

His only blemish was the 2015 season when he played only 17 games after battling mental health difficulties.

The Swans need to put together a string of victories to keep their finals chances alive.

The Tigers had won the past three clashes against Sydney before last year’s blowout, as the Swans crushed a hapless Tigers outfit by 113 points.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said on Friday night he was thrilled the club’s patience in Astbury had paid off.

He has taken many of the star forwards of the game this year, but Rance would still likely spend time on Franklin on Saturday.

“He has been outstanding. We all know Alex, how good a player he is and the way he’s going at the moment this will be his fourth All Australian (nomination),’’ he told SEN.

“David was in Dusty Martin’s draft and he was coming along nicely but then he missed two and a half years with his horrible knee injuries.

“He had a really good year last year and has backed it up. His ability to mark the ball and can play on the very good opponents, he compliments Alex really well.

“His best footy is still in front of him, he’s only 26.”

LANCE FRANKLIN ON THE WAY TO 1000 AND BEYOND

*Based on his rate of goals (3.2) at Sydney but not including potential finals appearances.

1000th goal — Round 1 2020

1058th goal — Round 19 2020.

1361st goal — Round 4 2025.