As questions continue around the future of Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin, AFL legend Jimmy Bartel has opened up on the “stubborn” mindset of the game’s best players as they near the end of their careers.
The Swans currently sit 14th on the ladder after nine rounds with Franklin struggling to replicate past form.
The four-time Coleman medallist has averaged one-and-a-half goals per match this season and managed only four disposals against Fremantle on Saturday.
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Franklin’s declining output so far in 2023 has led many to believe this will be his final year in the AFL.
Speaking on Nine’s Eddie and Jimmy podcast, host Eddie McGuire posed two questions to Bartel: “How do we get an elegant dismount for Bud? Do they come out and say this is his final year and play him accordingly?”
The Geelong great explained it’s not as simple as that.
“That’s a tough one, because you want to respect the legends and champions of your club and the game,” he said.
“But what makes them champions and legends is they’re incredibly stubborn because they feel like at any stage they’ve still got it and he’s still in their best 22 because no one’s pushing past him at the moment so this is the problem they’ve got.”
Having finished as the runner-up in the grand final last year against Geelong, Sydney’s decline has been sharp with a number of injuries to key players hampering its progress this year.
Ruckman Joel Amartey is over a month away from returning after suffering a hamstring injury in round five. Paddy McCartin has once again been sidelined with concussion issues, while Dane Rampe could miss up to seven weeks due to a neck injury. Sam Reid is also out for the season with a hamstring injury.
With the casualty ward considered, Bartel suggested injuries are the major reason behind Sydney’s fall and McGuire agreed.
“I think the injuries have killed them this year and as a result of that, the knock on affect of that is Bud’s (form) – who probably should’ve been the two, three or four forward this year and making impact and not necessarily playing every week,” he said.
“He missed the pre season, he had injuries all the way through and he’s 36.”
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Bartel added the absence of McCartin, younger brother Tom and Rampe has had a significant affect.
“Both McCartins have been missing and Dane Rampe of course, there’s your three defensive pillars,” he said.
McGuire finished by explaining the AFL world simply wants to give an appropriate tribute to Franklin, one of the game’s best ever players.
“You’re struggling from there so it’s a knock on affect but we want him to go out in style and I think we need to celebrate Buddy, he’s just been fantastic,” he said.
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