LANCE FRANKLIN'S on-again, off-again radar was at again yesterday and he must now wait another week to land Aboriginal football's first century of goals in VFL/AFL history.
Franklin's 4.5 return against West Coast at Subiaco means he is now two goals shy of the 100-goal mark, not achieved in the home-and-away season in the AFL since the great Tony Lockett in 1998.
While the odds are weighed heavily in his favour to reach it first, Franklin's nearest rival Carlton's Brendan Fevola needs eight goals to reach his ton. He's kicked a bag of eight twice this season. And in a quirk of circumstance, their teams will play each other on Saturday night, the first time this season.
It's the main event in a sideshow that pits the second-placed, finals-bound Hawks against 11th-placed Mad Monday-bound Blues, which can throw caution to the wind and go all out attack.
'Buddy, you're a freak': Plugger
HE WAS the last man to boot 100 goals in the regular season and Tony Lockett likes what he sees in the young bloke who is just about to join him.
Lockett, a goliath of a man who monstered opposition defences on his way to the AFL all-time goal-kicking record with 1360 majors, told a Perth newspaper there is no way knowing what Franklin could become.
"He looks a bit freakish to me. He's got a lot of untapped ability and just one of those players that could be absolutely anything," Lockett said. "He's very fit, athletic, he can run and jump. And I know people criticise his kicking a bit but that could come with a bit of experience a bit of age and a bit of hard work."
"He is a genuine superstar, I would say."
While the AFL has strongly discouraged football fans from swamping Franklin (or Fevola) should they reach their respective tons, Lockett is all for it. He was swamped when he broke Gordon Coventry's age-old record of 1299 goals at the SCG in 1999.
"It is one hell of an experience, not only for the player and players on the ground but also for the crowd," Lockett said. "If it was up to me, I'd say let them run out and enjoy the moment."
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Monday, August 25, 2008
Last Modified on 25/08/2008 02:12