Superstar Lance Franklin feels as fit as ever and intends to play out his mega nine-year Sydney contract

LANCE Franklin is four years into his mega nine-year contract with Sydney but the superstar says he still feels like he’s 25 and has every intention of playing out that deal — and he’s drawing inspiration from two former teammates to do it.

Lance Franklin still feels like he’s 25 despite now being 31 years of age. Picture: Nathan Edwards

THEY definitely can rebuild him.

Lance Franklin has endured four surgeries in the past 10 years — three in the past four seasons — to fix eight different parts of his body.

But 31-year-old Franklin says he’s feeling strong and is ready to play out the final five years of his $10 million Swans contract — at the top of his game.

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As Franklin approaches the halfway mark of the nine-year contract, he says he’s “feeling young” ahead of the new AFL season and the body is holding up just fine.

“I feel like I did at 25,” Franklin said. “My mind is feeling good, the body is feeling strong. I’m still passionate about playing.”

When “Buddy” signed his shock deal four and half years ago, it was felt by many that he would not go close to playing it out. He’s got a message for the doubters.

Lance Franklin still feels like he’s 25 despite now being 31 years of age. Picture: Nathan Edwards

“My goal is to finish the contract,” he said. “I’ve come up here to play the nine years.

I’m feeling good, I still feel young.”

The towering presence at the front of the Swans attack takes inspiration from former teammates Shaun Burgoyne at Hawthorn and Adam Goodes in Sydney. Thirty-five-year-old Burgoyne is still going strong on 341 games and Goodes retired at 35 with a Swans club-record 272 matches under his belt.

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“You have to look after your body and prepare right,” Franklin said. “Shaun was taking very good care of himself when I was there (Hawthorn) and the same with Goodsey.

“You have to do all the right things for your body and manage things the right way. You don’t get to 370 games if you don’t.”

Lance Franklin was a standout during a big training session for the Swans in Coffs Harbour. Picture: Nathan Edwards

When most players hit their 30s, their performances can start to wane, but there’s been no sign of that from Franklin.

In fact, last season was one of his best as he claimed his fourth Coleman Medal for most goals in a season, finished fifth in the Brownlow and runner-up in the Bob Skilton Medal for best and fairest.

Franklin says surgeries are just a fact of modern footy. After shoulder surgeries at the end of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, he had two minor procedures on his knees and one on an ankle before Christmas 2017.

Lance Franklin intends to play out his nine-year Sydney contract and is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, so who says he can’t? Picture: Phil Hillyard

“The body is holding up really well. I’ve had those surgeries, but besides that I’ve had a good run at it,” he said.

“I’ve had little clean-ups at the end of the year and they haven’t affected me the next year.”

While he will miss Saturday night’s AFLX competition at Allianz Stadium, he was impressive during a monster Swans training session in sweltering conditions in Coffs Harbour this week.

Franklin is expected to return to action in a practice match next weekend ahead of his 13th AFL season.

Franklin’s durability has been remarkable as the 300-game mark comes into view — he’s on 271 games. He has averaged 22.5 games per season over his 12 years in the AFL and has not missed a single game in the past two years.

Originally published as Superstar Lance Franklin feels as fit as ever and intends to play out his mega nine-year Sydney contract