Deck of Dream Team 2012: Buddy Franklin

Name: Lance Franklin
Club: Hawthorn
Assistant Coach 2012 Price: $503,000
Position: Forward
Bye Round: 13
2011 Average: 102
2011 Games Played: 19
Predicted Average: 105

Why should I pick him? Let’s face it, this guy is the best full forward in the competition.  When he is on, he can rip a team to shreds.  He can kick them from anywhere and can run up into the midfield if he isn’t getting a kick down forward.  And it is nice to watch the freakish stuff he does and have the inner glow that you know it is earning you DT points!

During 2011 he scored over 100 in 10 of his 19 games with a couple of massive scores of 144 and 142.  Those two came against Sydney and Port Adelaide. 

Every time the Hawks go forward, they look for Buddy.  He can beat just about anyone overhead and has great pace as well so he will get the ball out on the flanks or even through the midfield.  He averaged 3.7 goals a game, so even rounded to 3 that is 27pts a game right there (3 for the kick and 6 for the goal), add on to that those that he sprays OOB and for behinds, that is a lot of kicks per game (he averages nearly 12 kicks a game, there is 36pts a week).

The Hawks draw sees them play Port Adelaide twice, but GWS and GC only once each.  Their first two rounds are against Geelong and Collingwood so this may mean he doesn’t hit the heights early, but given his price doesn’t change til round 3 and they play Adelaide in rd3 at the MCG he should be able to make up for lost points.

He shares his bye with other forward choices such as Dusty Martin, Nick Volt and Mitch Robinson, but other than that your Forward line should be pretty much all playing when his bye comes around.

Why shouldn’t I pick him?  Free Kicks and Suspension!  Whilst he didn’t miss heaps of games through suspension last year, he gets you a lot of the dreaded -3’s.  Last year he had an average of 2.2 frees against each week.  That is giving away an average of 6.7 points every game.

When he doesn’t have those large scores he can really go missing.  Last year he had a 55, 68 along with 2 scores in the 70’s and two scores in the 80’s.  So if he is off, then he is really off.  This is a bit of a concern, however, as most teams in the league will have him, it shouldn’t hurt you too much.  The only problem will be if you have made him your Captain that week, but since you already have Swanny, Pendles or GAJ in your team, Buddy shouldn’t have to wear the C at all.

Deck of DT Rating: Ace. This guy should be one of the first picked in your teams.  He will pump out some massive scores and will be on most teams, so if you don’t have him on those 130+ days, you will really be hurting.  He really the go to guy in the Hawks foward line so you know he will get plenty of service from his team mates.  Lock him in!

Hope you are having a great Xmas day.  Hit me up on twitter @pkd73.