Kane Cornes, Matthew Lloyd concerned for struggling Lance Franklin after poor performance

“Two of his worst video games in the whole of his career have come in this finals series,” he said.

“Firstly, [Franklin was] unfortunately crushed against Steven May possibly (all through Sydney’s elimination last acquire more than Melbourne) and yesterday experienced the butter fingers early, wasn’t looking at the ball in flight, and even though there was not a total good deal of opportunity for him, he’s clearly not the very same player that he was.”

Franklin finished speculation encompassing his actively playing upcoming final week by agreeing to a one-calendar year extension with the Swans just times out from the grand remaining.

Cornes, who has beforehand questioned the timing of Franklin’s announcement, mentioned it would be “interesting” to see how the new offer performs out for Franklin and the Swans if his run of underwhelming performances ended up to stream into future season.

In a different reliable calendar year for Franklin, the four-time Coleman Medallist scored 50 targets all through the standard season to place himself ninth in the competitors for the stat.

A 4-aim haul in spherical two also saw the 35-calendar year-old notch the historic 1000-goal milestone.

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However, there was no question the eight-time All-Australian was silenced in the course of two of his club’s most vital matches this 12 months.

”Leigh Matthews manufactured a great level I imagined right after the video game,” Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd mentioned.

“He reported that his athleticism has allowed him to engage in as like a running, mobile forward. But now he has not acquired that any more, he has to engage in like a essential ahead for the rest of his career and which is not what he is.

“So, [Geelong] performed Jack Henry on him yesterday – who’s bought the mobility to go with him – but then he hasn’t obtained the aerial skill. So it is going to be a actual challenge for him upcoming 12 months – he has to play like a Jonathan Brown or a (Wayne) Carey in his final yr, which he is not due to the fact he cannot go like you utilized to.

Swan’s unbelievable one particular-handed mark and objective

“He was totally in just his legal rights to go on [one more season] but you detest observing players actually having difficulties in their closing yr.”

This year’s premiership decider marked a fourth grand ultimate decline for Franklin – his third as a Swan after also getting rid of one as a Hawk in 2012.

Franklin’s blockbuster trade to Sydney off the back of securing the 2013 premiership with Hawthorn was meant to elevate Sydney to a premiership certainty, but in a cruel twist of fate, has not eventuated.

“He’s received the two (premierships with Hawthorn), lost the 4, it just goes to exhibit how a dude who is going to be a legend of the match the moment he retires, has now missing double the total of grand finals that he is received,” journalist Damien Barrett mentioned.

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