Phil Davis is one of few men who’s regularly stifled the domination of Lance Franklin during the legendary AFL career of the decorated spearhead – and the Giants defender did so again in the Swan’s first push of the season for 1000 goals.
Franklin took to his first match of the season on 995 goals and was kept to just one major by Davis as Sydney trumped their cross-city rivals by 20 points on Saturday night.
But Davis’ blanket job on Franklin in round one at Sydney Olympic Park may have set him up to hit the milestone when Sydney host Geelong on their home SCG turf next Friday night.
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Franklin will strive to become the sixth man in the game’s history to have booted 1000 goals when he’s likely met by Mark Blicavs inside 50 in round two.
Franklin didn’t register a single possession in the first quarter of the GWS clash and finished the match with one goal from eight touches.
One member of the 1000-goal club, Hawthorn royalty Jason Dunstall, noted that Franklin appeared irritated when he won a free kick and walked back to slot his only goal of the game.
The eight-time All-Australian picked himself up off the ground and fired up at Davis, shouldering him as he dropped some zingers during the second quarter.
“You can see a bit of frustration there from Buddy Franklin,” Dunstall said on the Fox Footy broadcast.
“He hasn’t found the football at all in the first quarter, he’s had the one kick now to take a little bit of pressure off, and you can just see the emotion when he got a free kick.
“He knows that Phil Davis has been all over him, playing him smart.
“He’s a veteran, Phil Davis. He’s got tricks: just a little grab of the arm, knock off balance.
“He didn’t get away with it that time and Buddy told him about it.”
Franklin and Davis had a healthy embrace moments after the full-time siren, which Dunstall pointed out.
“Good exchange between Davis and Franklin after the game,” Dunstall said.
“Obviously (it was) an intense battle.
“They were at each other during the game but (they have) a lot of respect.”
Franklin is hoping to join Tony Lockett, Gordon Conventry, Dunstall, Doug Wade and Garry Ablett senior in the 1000-goal club.
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