Swans fans sure it’s in the bag as all eyes turn to Buddy Franklin

Sydney Swans fans are limbering up for their blockbuster clash at the SCG.

Swans supporters Sarah Weal and Aaron Molenkamp are ready for the Saturday clash against Collingwood. Picture: John Feder

Sarah Weal and Aaron Molenkamp have a bond forged through a mutual devotion to the Sydney Swans, with the long-term friends crossing state borders to support their beloved Bloods in their high-stakes clash against Collingwood.

For the second time in the club’s history, the Sydney Swans will play off in a preliminary final at the SCG on Saturday, following Tony Lockett’s famous point in 1996 to ­secure a grand final spot against North Melbourne.

Last year Sydney was bundled out of the finals race with a devastating one-point elimination final loss to local rivals Greater ­Western Sydney, but Ms Weal and Mr Molenkamp are so confident the Swans can pull off a win that they already have tickets for next weekend’s grand final.

“We’re great mates and we’re great Swannies fans,” Ms Weal said.

“I live in Kangaroo Island and I’ve made the big decision to come over to this prelim.”

Tickets to the blockbuster clash sold out within minutes on Monday, with thousands of fans left enraged by multiple crashes to the Ticketek website.

But Saturday’s game could be bittersweet for the Swans faithful, with speculation it could be Lance Franklin’s last game for the club, as he reaches the end of his nine-year, $10m contract.

The superstar forward, who this year became only the sixth player to kick 1000 goals, has been linked to the Brisbane Lions, while Franklin said he would not discuss his future until the end of his ­season.

“At this stage, conversations have been paused around my contract so I can put all my focus on playing footy,” Franklin said in August.

“I am still undecided and need time after the season to make a family decision about whether I continue to play next year.”

Lance Franklin. Picture: Phil Hillyard

When asked what the team would be without Franklin, Ms Weal said Swans supporters would have mixed emotions.

“The Bloods culture is about the team environment, and he’s someone who creates excitement, but we have some amazing future stars,” she said.

Mr Molenkamp was among the crowd that stormed the SCG when Franklin scored his 1000th goal in March, and ranks the ­experience as one of the best of his life.

“We were all roaring and everyone jumped over the fence and it was mayhem on the ground,” he said. “It’s very hard to explain the feeling, but it was ­immense.

“He is definitely a tip-top ­player and an incredible talent, and one day it will come to an end, but hopefully we get one more season out of him.”