BUDDY’S kicking screwies at the SCG.
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It’s a song that’s become a bit of a viral sensation this year thanks to the band Dead Set Ledger, and it’s proof of the impact Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin has had at the Sydney Swans.
In just one season he’s gone from Melbourne refugee to a Harbourside hero - leading the Swans into their fourth grand-final in 10 years.
But it’s not the song that’s surprising; it’s the fact that there is a song at all.
He has been an absolute dream for the AFL’s expansion into NSW.
His 10-million-dollar, nineyear contract with the Swans from a premiership winning side at Hawthorn made headlines Australia wide late last year.
It was unheard of.
Buddy who? Most didn’t have a clue who he was north of the border.
But he’s graced newspaper back-pages and Sydney tabloids ever since. Thanks in part to his bad-boy image, and his former Miss Universe Australia girlfriend Jesinta Campbell.
To top it all off, and to really justify the hype; he has been in phenomenal form on the footy field.
The 27-year-old was great at Hawthorn, he won two premierships, was four time All- Australian with two Coleman medals – one including a memorable tonne in 2008. But he’s been a revelation for the Swans this year.
He’s the club’s leading goal kicker and he finished equal runner up in the competitions’ most prestigious honour, the Brownlow Medal earlier this week.
Yes - he got off to a slow start, but really, it was no surprise.
Now, he is part of possibly the most feared forward line in the AFL competition.
When Buddy isn’t running around, bullying defenders, it’s fellow big forward Kurt Tippet slotting goals. Hell, their whole side is capable of scoring goals; their sharing of the ball is something the club prides itself on.
Their preliminary final win against North Melbourne a week ago at ANZ Stadium was the perfect example at just how ruthless the Swans can be. Franklin and Tippet in particular traumatised the Kangaroo defenders.
Combined they kicked nine goals.
And now it’s lined up perfectly, so perfectly that the AFL could have only ever dreamed of such a final.
The Hawks vs the Swans….
Make no mistake, the Swans pride themselves on their Blood culture, a ‘no dickhead’ culture where no one is above the team. But honestly, this is Buddy’s grand-final. He’s up against his former club in the most important game of the season.
It couldn’t have worked out any better.
For the sport in Sydney, this was exactly what it needed.
Arguably Sydney’s biggest AFL name since Tony ‘Plugga’ Lockett, with his name plastered all over the media ahead of the most hotly anticipated grand-finals in recent times.
Even the great Kevin Sheedy, a staunch supporter of cross-town rivals the GWS Giants announced mid-week that he’s cheering on the red and white tomorrow.
He said it was for the benefit of the game in Sydney that the city gets around the Swans. He’s not wrong.
Come 2.30pm tomorrow the greatest advertisement for AFL in NSW kicks off.
And whether you like it or not, the main attraction - Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin - looks likely to steal the show.