Former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson thinks Sydney should consider deploying Lance Franklin in a “strange” role in their Preliminary Final against Collingwood on Saturday.
While Franklin has kicked the fifth most goals in AFL/VFL history with 1045 majors to his name, Sanderson believes the veteran Swan may have to “sacrifice his natural game” for his side to beat the Magpies and progress to the Grand Final.
Given how important Collingwood defender Darcy Moore has been in the Magpies’ two finals, Sanderson thinks Franklin should go into the clash with a defensive mindset to draw his opponent away from dangerous space in Sydney’s forward 50.
“This might sound strange to Swans supporters and footy fans in general, but I would send Buddy Franklin – who has kicked 1000 goals in his career – to Darcy Moore in a defensive forward role,” Sanderson said on SEN’s Whateley.
“Whether you start with that, I’m not sure, but be ready to go to it.
“We saw what Steven May did to Buddy last time the Swans played Melbourne.
“We spoke to Luke Hodge about this a few weeks ago, Buddy would be really receptive to this, he is a team player.
“If John Longmire stood in front of the group and said, ‘Buddy, the most important player for Collingwood is Darcy Moore, despite you being one of the greatest forwards the game has ever seen, for us to get into a Grand Final we need you to limit Darcy Moore’s influence, can you take him up the ground as high as you can and get him away from our forward 50?’.
“Just let Buddy be creative a bit higher this week, leave Howe and Murphy back with say Reid and Heeney and see how those matchups go.
“I think the Swans would feel like they’ve got the advantage in those matchups.
“I’m asking Buddy to sacrifice his natural game for the benefit of the team this week if the Swans are to get up.”
While Sanderson thinks a defensive forward role would help limit Moore’s influence, he conceded that the star Magpie will be “smart enough” to work his way around any attention and still find a way to impact the game.
“The only danger to that for Sydney is Moore is smart enough to be able to handover up the ground,” Sanderson said.
“Collingwood would be prepared for that, but I think that’d be the preferred matchup, Moore would be tagged by Buddy and then Buddy would try to take him up the ground until he chooses to hand over.”
Franklin was held to just seven disposals and no goals by Steven May in Sydney’s Qualifying Final win over Melbourne while Moore has polled coaches' votes in both of Collingwood’s finals thus far.
The bounce for Saturday’s Preliminary Final at the SCG is set for 4:45pm (AEST), with the game declared a sell out.