AFL Wrap: All the reaction to week two of the finals

LANCE Franklin’s blockbuster deal with the Sydney Swans has been put under the microscope after a historic finals flop.

Sydney's Lance Franklin looks on during the AFL semi-final match between the Sydney Swans and Geelong Cats at the MCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

WEEK two of the finals has seen the Sydney Swans and the West Coast Eagles sensationally spiral out of the competition after massive semi-final losses.

The Swans registered their lowest score in a finals game in over a century against the Cats, tumbling their way out of the match as Geelong raced home with a 15.8 (98) — 5.9 (39) victory.

The Eagles were shown their way to the door as the Giants steamrolled their way to a commanding 19.11 (125) — 9.4 (58).

Here were the talking points from the semi-finals weekend.

DAMNING STAT HAUNTING BUDDY

Buddy disappointing.

Lance Franklin’s blockbuster trade to the Sydney Swans in 2013 took the AFL world by storm. The then-26-year-old went north from premiership bullies Hawthorn in 2013 on a huge $10 million, nine-year deal with the Swans. But has it been a success?

The towering forward has more than earnt his pay-cheque during this year’s regular season, helping his side into the finals after a shock 0-6 start to the year.

A mammoth performance against Carlton late in the year highlighted the 30-year-old’s season, booting a whopping 10 goals and single-handedly outscoring the Blues.

But a surprising stat has exposed Franklin’s weakness in big games for the Swans. Friday night’s historic flop saw Sydney register their lowest total in over a century. Franklin failed to kick a single goal, finishing the match with a dreary 0.3 next to his name.

Cats defender Harry Taylor thwarted Franklin’s usual dominance in the forwards, giving the veteran a massive headache in marking contests throughout the night.

It’s not the first time the four-time Coleman Medallist has failed to deliver in Swans finals losses, either. In Sydney’s last three exits from the AFL season, Franklin has scored just one goal (which came against the Western Bulldogs last year).

The question of Sydney’s success in signing the AFL superstar was posed on The Sunday Footy Show after the Friday night loss.

“His stats just aren’t great when it comes to finals,” host Tony Jones said. “It’s been a question that’s been (thrown) around a lot: has the Buddy to Sydney deal worked?”

Former AFL star Billy Brownless was adamant Franklin’s move to the club, which has since seen the Swans make two grand finals, has been a success despite his recent failures in must-win games.

“Yes, both on and off the field,” he said. “He gets people to the ground to go and watch (him).

Footy journalist Damian Barrett agreed.

“I know you can say to make this deal a success they’d need at least one win in a grand final,” he said.

“They’re hard to make and they’re harder to win. I don’t think it’s his fault they haven’t won the two they’ve made.”

FREAK 119-YEAR HISTORY LOOMS

Will Adelaide sing the song on September 30?

If the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers come away with wins over Geelong and GWS respectively, the AFL will be faced with the most inexperienced grand final since the 1800s.

Should the Giants and the Cats fall to the two rampaging sides, it will be the first time in over a century since a season was decided with all 44 players starring in their first-ever grand final.

The last time that happened was in 1898 between Fitzroy and Essendon — in the competition’s second-ever season, a time before Australia was even declared a country.

Richmond last played in a grand final clash in 1980, while Adelaide’s last appearance was in 1998 where they won their second title.

GEELONG’S EMBARRASSING SLIP-UP

Despite leaving the club to go to @Richmond_FC, Josh Caddy still featured in the @GeelongCats 2017 calendar. #Fail pic.twitter.com/GGWxtVPZ4r

— AFL Game Day (@7aflgameday) September 17, 2017

The person in charge of organising Geelong’s 2017 calendar will be having an awkward conversation with their boss after their embarrassing fail was outed on national TV.

Channel Seven’s Hamish McLachlan pointed out a massive oversight to former Geelong star Josh Caddy after being sent a copy from the Cats.

“I picked up the Geelong calendar they sent me for being a member — I looked at September, started circling things and then saw you there,” he said on AFL Game Day. “What are you doing?”

Caddy was traded to Richmond on the last day of the 2016 trade period.