DARREN MONCRIEFF
Monday, August 29, 2011
BARRING A 10-goal haul from his nearest rival, and a goal-less game against the lowly Suns this weekend, Hawthorn's Lance Franklin is set to claim his second Coleman Medal.
The Hawks spearhead Franklin (pictured) has kicked 71 goals this season with one home-and-away match remaining.
He has a nine-goal buffer from Collingwood's Travis Cloke (62) on the AFL's goalkicking leaderboard.
The Coleman Medal is awarded to the player with the highest amount of goals kicked during the season, excluding finals.
Franklin, who was the Hawks' round 1 No.5 pick in the 2004 AFL national draft, became the first Aboriginal footballer to win the V/AFL's Coleman Medal in 2008.
In that year, in which Hawthorn won the premiership, Franklin kicked 100 goals, his 100th coming during the final round 22 match (against Carlton; he kicked 4.5 in that game to end with 102 goals for the season).
It was the first time since Sydney's Tony Lockett in 1998 that an AFL player would kick 100 goals or more in a season. Franklin would add a further 11 as the Hawks stormed to win the flag.
This weekend, Hawthorn play Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.
If Geelong lose to Collingwood on Friday night, the high-flying Hawks can claim second spot on the ladder if they win against the second-last placed Suns, whose backline is among the league's most inexperienced.
Provided the Cats can keep the rampant Cloke in check, and Franklin fires against the Suns, Franklin will win his second Coleman Medal.
AboriginalFootball@wesnet.com.au
Last Modified on 29/08/2011 18:39