Lance Franklin is inconsistent & has done nothing since 2008 and other messages from Uranus

[Chewy]

I keep hearing crazy talk about how inconsistent Lance Franklin is. I also keep hearing about how he's done nothing since 2008. I don't know if Buddy is the best footballer in the AFL (he's gotta be up there) but what I do know is that the 2010 All Australian CHF is one of the most consistent performers in the AFL. He has carried the load for Hawthorn since they won the flag in 2008. The team has struggled into 9th and 7th place and the delivery into their forward line has been generally atrocious, but Buddy has been a constant shining light.


Here's Buddy's stats for the 2010 season just to illustrate how terribly INCONSISTENT he has been...

(T = tackles)

Here's a quick comparison to other three dominant CHFs over the past 2 seasons
(Games played, av possessions, av goals, av bhds, av tackles)

Pav has spent more time in the midfield (hence more possessions and tackles, but fewer goals & behinds) but it's obvious Franklin now sits comfortably alongside the three best CHFs of the modern era. And to think these stats were accrued in years when people thought he was a bit down. I suspect he'll go even better in 2011 now that he is entering the prime of his career.

Feel free to add your thoughts about Franklin's pre-eminence, or maybe you'd like to debunk some of the other stupid myths that ignorant people like to spout.

 

[spuzzlord]

i reckon most of his so called inconsistency comes from the fact he occasionally plays an absolute blinder of a game.

he doesnt always play like that so in some peoples eyes that is inconsistent.

 

[Paranoid]

I thought he''d been very good since 08, despite Hawthorn's struggles. I still consider him the best CHF in the comp.

 

[Tas]

Buddy is very good and he works hard over 4 quarters. Now, Cyrill is one that has me perplexed, he is chronically overrated given his output and lack of 4 quarter efforts.

 

[J_Moore]

Adam Goodes effect. At his best, simply unstoppable. When he has a run of weeks that are merely very good, people cry "bad form".

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

He's good, but no number 1.

Those numbers are 15-20 odd at best

 

[Cynic]

Buddy is very good and he works hard over 4 quarters. Now, Cyrill is one that has me perplexed, he is chronically overrated given his output and lack of 4 quarter efforts.

Certainly more inconsistent than Buddy.

 

[Richo83]

There's an old adage in sport, you're either a flighty star who is inconsistent yet sporadically brilliant, or the solid citizen who never reaches great heights but keeps a level. For every Didak there's a Boyd (although admittedly Didak is getting better, however he used to buckle under pressure and not perform consistently, and Boyd is becoming more of an offensive weapon these days).

Franklin fits neither of these moulds. Firstly, he's not inconsistent. Neither is he lazy like many players with "x factor" are. Neither does he shirk a contest or flake under pressure. Kicked a clutch (apologies for the yank usage but it is apt) goal against the crows in a final, then singlehandedly destroyed the dogs' backline and kicked 8 goals. For a player with a large ego, Franklin does a large amount of chasing, tackling, harassing. Think of Fevola, when he doesn't get the ball kicked to him, he cracks the shits, and he hardly ever sheparded or tackled for his teammates to the level Franklin does. Yet Franklin double runs, tackles, chases. Never gives up. He is equal to Hodge in performing day in day out. Want to see a forward who is inconsistent and lazy? Have a look at Roughead. Dare I say it, Franklin has been labeled inconsistent because some assume all self-assured (indigenous) players with talent to be so. I was told once by a person who is not really racist that no indigenous player plays at a very consistent level like say a Bartel, Hodge or Hayes. They have moments of brilliance mixed with averageness. I disagree and Franklin is proof.

And yet on the flip side, Franklin is clearly an example of star power that can turn a game in an instant. Bomber fans know this all too well. Franklin's capacities and talents are enormous but I think he's fulfilled his talents. He's the coach and the fans' dream: someone who balances talent and effort effortlessly, and lives up to expectations. If Hawthorn could have guaranteed at 2004 that Franklin would have turned out the way he did, I think they would have not worried about using the no. 2 pick as much, it would have been a bonus, given how many draftees actually live up to expectations and perform at an elite level especially for so long. For all these reasons, IMO Franklin is easily in the top ten of the comp, and is one of my favourite players. IMO he's not the best (although he's damn close), but he's one of the best to watch and I think he's the model of the modern forward in so many ways.

 

[Rubber Pants]

Just shows how good Pav really is and how much expectation is on him.

If he didn't have to fill other gaps on the ground and could just play at CHF (like the first half of 2010 before Barlow went down) he would be at the top of the pile.

 

[Cynic]

There's an old adage in sport, you're either a flighty star who is inconsistent yet sporadically brilliant, or the solid citizen who never reaches great heights but keeps a level. For every Didak there's a Boyd (although admittedly Didak is getting better, however he used to buckle under pressure and not perform consistently, and Boyd is becoming more of an offensive weapon these days).

Franklin fits neither of these moulds. Firstly, he's not inconsistent. Neither is he lazy like many players with "x factor" are. Neither does he shirk a contest or flake under pressure. Kicked a clutch (apologies for the yank usage but it is apt) goal against the crows in a final, then singlehandedly destroyed the dogs' backline and kicked 8 goals. For a player with a large ego, Franklin does a large amount of chasing, tackling, harassing. Think of Fevola, when he doesn't get the ball kicked to him, he cracks the shits, and he hardly ever sheparded or tackled for his teammates to the level Franklin does. Yet Franklin double runs, tackles, chases. Never gives up. He is equal to Hodge in performing day in day out. Want to see a forward who is inconsistent and lazy? Have a look at Roughead. Dare I say it, Franklin has been labeled inconsistent because some assume all self-assured (indigenous) players with talent to be so. I was told once by a person who is not really racist that no indigenous player plays at a very consistent level like say a Bartel, Hodge or Hayes. They have moments of brilliance mixed with averageness. I disagree and Franklin is proof.

And yet on the flip side, Franklin is clearly an example of star power that can turn a game in an instant. Bomber fans know this all too well. Franklin's capacities and talents are enormous but I think he's fulfilled his talents. He's the coach and the fans' dream: someone who balances talent and effort effortlessly, and lives up to expectations. If Hawthorn could have guaranteed at 2004 that Franklin would have turned out the way he did, I think they would have not worried about using the no. 2 pick as much, it would have been a bonus, given how many draftees actually live up to expectations and perform at an elite level especially for so long. For all these reasons, IMO Franklin is easily in the top ten of the comp, and is one of my favourite players. IMO he's not the best (although he's damn close), but he's one of the best to watch and I think he's the model of the modern forward in so many ways.

Probably the only thing to add to this great post is that Buddy, while no necessarily egotistical, is a confident boy and is prone to be slightly more individualistic in a game than some may prefer.

 

[Groggyk]

Suffers for his own brilliance, as like Carey was, his best is head and shoulders above everybody else.

 

[Wallaby]

Tambling is more consistent.

 

[Richo83]

Adam Goodes effect. At his best, simply unstoppable. When he has a run of weeks that are merely very good, people cry "bad form".

Goodes is inconsistent though, and last year proved this. Goodes played some shockers last year, think of when he played Collingwood and was awol yet tore North a new arseh*le a few weeks later. His kicking was a little off IMO last year as well. When I watched Goodes play the tigers last year at the g, his kicking was off and this wasn't a one off occurrence last year. Franklin has Goodes' peaks, but the troughs? Not sure. Maybe not as much as people think but I don't think he has the level of consistency that Franklin has. Personally I think with Goodes we're partly confusing consistency with being overrated. Goodes is overrated definitely IMO due to his two brownlow medals.

 

[Cynic]

Tambling is more consistent.

Tis true. Not much form deviation from Tambling at this stage.

 

[TerryWallet]

It's hard to pinpoint a clear No 1 in the league.

I would throw Buddy, Ablett, Judd and Riewoldt into a group atm. On any given day any could be my No 1, but i reckon Buddy would be King on more than the others.

He is a freak.

To me, Hodge is the one who is overrated. Outstanding talent but i don't think he has ever been professional enough and elite fit enough to realise his potential. Norm Smith and AA Captain are elite accomplishments but i really think he is a talent a little unfulfilled.

 

[Long Live the King]

No doubting Buddies ability.

Reminds me plenty of Richo.

Whether he would be the first Id pick in my team, not sure.

As much as we like to bag the blues and the saints Id probably settle for Juddy or Goddard first. Whilst they dont have the glitz of turning a player inside out and kicking it from the boundary they would be the player winning the hard ball out of the middle and getting it to a Buddy.

Buddy would be 5 on my list. Judd / Goddard / Swan / Ablett before him.

 

[Ricmel]

Good player. Not number 1 in the AFL though. Just not nearly enough to support that. And I think the vast majority of footy fans are thinking that way.

At his best, as good as you have seen...just like many others at their best.

 

[.Shotties.]

Goodes is inconsistent though, and last year proved this.

One season where he still played in the mids on the wrong side of 30 whilst being 196cm and almost 100kg proves it? Right.

Personally I think with Goodes we're partly confusing consistency with being overrated. Goodes is overrated definitely IMO due to his two brownlow medals.

At this stage of Franklin's career, Goodes was a much better player. He'd played in pretty much every key position bar FB, won a Brownlow in the ruck and almost every one of his stats bar goals is superior to Franklin's in their corresponding years with over 100 more possessions, over 40 more marks, more tackles, assists you name it.

So you'll have to beg my pardon in asking why the dual Brownlow medal, multiple AA is definitely overrated but Franklin definitely is not considering he hasn't even reached the same stage of career that Goodes is at.

 

[Slattery_20]

1st off - mean average doesn't prove consistency.
{ Average of 1, 20, 1 > average of 2, 2, 2.
Which is more consistent? }

Guy used to kick 8.1 one week from 20 touches & 10 marks, then 2.9 the next from 20 touches & 10 marks... that's where the inconsistency comes in. Finishing.

Great athlete, reasonably consistent with his efforts if not the rewards, not the greatest skills, not really the best 1-on-1.

Still don't know how to classify him. Really a super-sized wingman rather than a traditional FF or CHF

 

[Rustin Cohle]

Inconsistent? No way. He was basically unstoppable in 2008 when Hawthorn were a top two team and now that they've fallen down the ladder he doesn't have as much brilliance around him which makes it harder for him to shine. However, he has still outperformed just about every other forward in the league over the past two years and does it week in week out.

Anyone who says he's inconsistent is surely taking the piss.

 

[J_Moore]

Personally I think with Goodes we're partly confusing consistency with being overrated. Goodes is overrated definitely IMO due to his two brownlow medals.

Nah, the bloke is a weapon. The two brownlow medals invite the "overrated" tag. They don't mean he's overrated.

Other than that, pretty much what Shotties said, really.

 

[TerryWallet]

1st off - mean average doesn't prove consistency.
{ Average of 1, 20, 1 > average of 2, 2, 2.
Which is more consistent? }

Guy used to kick 8.1 one week from 20 touches & 10 marks, then 2.9 the next from 20 touches & 10 marks... that's where the inconsistency comes in. Finishing.

Great athlete, reasonably consistent with his efforts if not the rewards, not the greatest skills, not really the best 1-on-1.

Still don't know how to classify him. Really a super-sized wingman rather than a traditional FF or CHF

Match Winner would be about right Slatts. Still by far the most sought after talent in a player.

When they are not winning matches for their team on their brilliant days, they are still fudging with the heads of the oppo coaches and players on their mere mortal days.

 

[maryjames]

Alot of those goals Franklin has kicked the last 2 years are in junk time..He would had played poorly for 3 quarters then kick a quick 3 in the last quarter. So his all round game is inconsistent. Hardly ever plays consistently for 4 quarters..Like he did at times in 2008.

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

Alot of those goals Franklin has got the last 2 years are in junk time..He would had played poorly for 3 quarters then kick a quick 3 in the last quarter. So his all round game is inconsistent. Hardly ever plays consistently for 4 quarters..Like he did at times in 2008.

No one feed the troll

 

[goodoldcats]

I hate hawthorn but i love watching franklin play.