Lance Franklin – Deck of DT 2015

Name: Lance Franklin
Club: Sydney
Position: Forward
AFL Fantasy: $536,000
AFL Dream Team: $534,700
Bye Round: 12
2014 Average: 94.74
2014 Games Played: 19
Predicted Average: 94

Click here for DT Live profile.

Why should I pick him?

Before 2014, ask anybody in Sydney about Buddy Franklin and they would have thought you were talking about some kind of snack sized water bottle. Turn the clock forward 12 months and he is the darling of the harbour city, with a wallet fatter than Clive Palmer and fiancée hotter than Jackie Lambie (Hard to believe I know)

Australia’s version of David Beckham (minus the soccer, aftershave range, ex spice girl stick figure wife and high pitched pommy accent) is an out and out champion.

After having an off 2013 in his last year at the hawks, Buddy was offered an enormous “incentive” to head up to Sydney for the next 10 years. He packed up his belongings and ,using a portion of his new pay packet, purchased 15 x 24 carat gold dolphins to tow him on a chariot made entirely of diamonds up to Sydney.

Being clearly bloated from all the caviar, truffles, Dom perignon and dolphins that he consumed at the start of 2014, his fantasy game started in a truly woeful fashion. Averaging a disappointing 71 after his first 6 games, which included 3 scores under 55.

He then had a week off in round 7 with a “knee” injury (Rumour has it, that he took the weekend off to hire the entire Sydney harbour for a pool party).

Something happened around that time that would change Buddy’s fantasy stats for the better for the rest of the year. Yep that is right, he found a beautiful partner that he will spend at least the next 8 years with…. His name was Kurt (Oh and some broad named Jesinta)

Now let’s not down play the significance of Kurt “everybody in Adelaide still hates me” Tippett. The 2 came together for the first time in round 8 and Buddy where berko against his old side. With Tippett taking some of the attention away from Buddy, he went on his merry way to 15 Kicks, 10 Marks, 2 goals and even 4 tackles for 106 lovely points. Now it should be noted that he also kicked 7, yep that is right 7 behinds AAAANNNNNDDDDD gave away 6 Free kicks….. Had he converted each one of those points and not given away those stupid frees, you could add another 53 points on top of that 106.

Buddy was back!

From that point on until he was “omitted” in round 19 (Sapphire encrusted Oompah Loompahs hand feeding him grapes in the Hunter Valley), he went onto average 102.8, from his next 9 games, including 6 x 100’s and a 98 and an impressive 36 goals.

Buddy had found his MOJO again. He was happy, Jesinta was happy, Kurt was happy, all of the panel beaters in Sydney were happy.

He went on to finish the year in style. Let’s not forget his 9 goal 157 point domination of the Saints in round 21.

Put simply, these numbers tell the story:

• Tippet in the side, Buddy averages 107
• Tippet out of the side, Buddy averages 84

That is a very handy 23 point differential.

Buddy scored over the ton 11 times in the regular season and once in the finals. When he does get over 100, he averages 119. Those are premium midfielder stats.

Oh and he likes playing in Sydney. This year he averaged:

SCG – 111 (40, 100, 113, 122, 120, 114, 157) They play 8 games there in 2015
ANZ – 103 (73, 106, 95, 137) 3 games in 2015

Why shouldn’t I pick him?

There is a smorgasbord of tasty talent on offer in the forward line in 2014, and if lots of DPP is your thing, well then those options might suit you better.

He shares the round 12 bye with studs like Swan, Goddard and Riewoldt, as well as some new DPP’s in Ziebell and Cooney.

He can be inconsistent, and those stupid free kicks he gives away have been known to make my laptop throw itself in anger.

He will miss games. Buddy hasn’t played every game in a season since 2008.

There is a chance he may drown in his wad of cash

 

Deck of DT Rating.

ACE – He is a marvel, and I don’t even really like the guy. I think that there is a bit of uniqueness about him for 2015, and he is not a bad Ace to have as a point of difference. He will definitely be a top 6 forward and as long as he continues to be good on field mates with his mate Kurt, the signs are good for Buddy in 2015.

Note: I may have stretched the truth or made up some facts in the above story… He actually averages 118.5 when he scores a ton, not 119.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: @RainmanDT for all thing AFL Fantasy (and more). Got something to say about the deck? Use the hashtag… #DeckofDT.