Terry Wallace believes Lance Franklin’s opponents in recent weeks have enabled him to return to top goal scoring form.
Franklin has kicked 13 goals and 13 behinds against Collingwood, Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney in his last three matches, after there were concerns surrounding the fitness of the star forward.
Former Western Bulldogs and Richmond coach Wallace highlighted the gulf in experience and size between the 31-year-old and his defensive match-ups in those particular games.
“He’ll be the sixth person ever to kick 1000+ goals in an era where they’re much more difficult to kick than ever before,” Wallace told SEN Afternoons.
“He will be a legend of the game, so there’s no doubting that.
“I’m just talking about the last three weeks.
“He’s kicked 13 goals and 13 behinds over the last three weeks, but it’s been against Jeremy Finlayson who is a half-back flanker, who’s playing out of position, who was in the NEAFL the week before.
“Sam Frost has only been back in the Melbourne side and doing a good job, but a month prior he was playing VFL.
“Finlayson is 15kg lighter than Buddy, Frosty is athletic but 12kg lighter than Buddy, and he played on Jack Madgen versus Collingwood who was in his very first game of AFL football who was 15kg lighter.
“I’m not bagging Buddy, but I’m just saying that the last three weeks let’s not look at his record over the last three weeks and over explode it.”
Franklin is a doubt for this weekend’s clash against his old side Hawthorn with a groin injury.
Listen to Terry Wallace’s chat on SEN Afternoons with Andy Maher in the player below