Buddy overshadowed by AFL’s ‘best player’

The winner of the derby will keep their premiership hopes alive while the loser will turn their attention to 2022.

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In bizarre circumstances, the war between the two Sydney teams is taking place in Launceston, Tasmania, as the AFL strives to keep the season going in the midst of Covid-19 outbreaks around the country.

Toby Greene and Buddy Franklin were in a first half shootout — booting three goals each — as the Giants took a 23-point lead into the main break.

Second quarter — Swans 5.4 (34) vs Giants 9.3 (57)

Buddy Franklin started the quarter in hot fashion, bringing the ball to ground then soccering through the big sticks for his second goal of the game.

Toby Greene continued being a thorn in the Swans’ side. Some slick handballs in the Giants’ forward half saw him slot home a third goal as GWS took the lead.

“How important is Toby Greene in that GWS team. Freak,” former AFL star turned radio host Ryan Fitzgerald tweeted during the match.

Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury added: “Toby Greene is bloody good, best player in the league good.”

GWS went on a rampage to start the second quarter. Daniel Lloyd’s goal made it four six-pointers in a row for the Giants and they surged 18 points ahead. Jesse Hogan then made it five goals on the trot as GWS hit the half century.

Who else would stop the rot but Franklin? The veteran marked then booted a crucial goal — his third of the day — to snap the Giants’ streak and reduce the margin to 16 with a few minutes left in the half.

But Harry Himmelberg nailed his set shot after the siren to send the Giants into the sheds on a high.

First quarter: Tense affair playing out

Tom Papley gave the Swans first blood, taking a strong mark then winning a 50m free kick before kicking truly.

The small forward missed everything when he fluffed his second set shot of the quarter before Toby Greene kicked the Giants’ first goal, then added a second a few minutes later.

Buddy Franklin came to the party by bending a banana through the big sticks as both teams went to the first break on 20 points each.

All eyes on Buddy

There’s been plenty of talk about Buddy Franklin in the lead-up to the finals. The Swans superstar needs eight more majors to become just the sixth man to boot 1000 goals, but Giants defender Sam Taylor will be hoping to keep the mercurial left-footer quiet.

The Swans finished the regular season sixth, one spot ahead their cross-town rivals. They’ve split their two games this season, with each side winning one match apiece, and the Swans are yet to beat the AFL’s newest club in a finals clash.

Sydney are without Callum Mills and Josh Kennedy because of injury. An Achilles problem forced Mills out of the Swans’ game against the Gold Coast while Kennedy sat on the sidelines for the Suns match with a hamstring complaint that has continued to plague the co-captain.

For the Giants, Shane Mumford has been recalled and Stephen Coniglio will take his place after missing several week with injury.