Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton has conceded that he initially believed that Lance Franklin would only see out five of the nine-year contract he signed to join Sydney.
The 34-year-old is approaching the final year of the mega deal he signed with the Swans after leaving Hawthorn at the end of the 2013 season.
Franklin has played 13 of a possible 17 games in 2021, kicking 37 goals as he draws closer to the magical 1000-goal milestone.
Brereton said it was an “absolute rarity” that Franklin was able to fight through several soft-tissue injury setbacks in recent years to play an integral part in Sydney’s resurgence this year.
“It’s an absolute rarity that a player that plays in a key position, his body fails him once than once in a season,” he said on SEN's Bob and Andy.
“Soft tissue injuries, it’s weird that you go less, less and less (games played) and then build again and play more games. He’s doing that now, he’s once again broken the trend.
“Next year is his ninth year of that contract. To be totally honest, when he went (from Hawthorn), I thought they’d only get five of those nine years.”
Franklin missed the entirety of last season through injury, while two seasons ago only managed 10 games.