The gun full forward was his brilliant best in 2012, providing fans with a number of breathtaking moments adding to his extensive reel of highlights.
Lance Franklin enjoyed more time up the ground, but it wasn’t at the expense of his ability to act as the Hawks’ focal point up forward.
He kicked 69 goals in just 19 matches and was named All Australian despite missing six matches between round 16 and 21. His impact in 19 games was profound, underlining his ability to have an impact for the Hawks and the competition in a short period.
He opened the season with a powerful performance against Collingwood in Round 1, gathering 21 possessions and kicking five goals despite playing up the ground, including stints in the center circle.
He had no trouble attracting the football in the first half of the year, and was averaging at least six shots on goal a game, but his inability to convert his myriad of chances attracted criticism from the media.
His return was 21.36 in the opening nine rounds, including two bags of five, but it was his return of 1.6 against West Coast in Round 4 and 3.7 against Melbourne in Round 7 that had the critics talking.
Alastair Clarkson publicly backed Franklin to turn his goal kicking woes around ahead of the Round 10 clash against the Kangaroos, and he couldn’t have timed the comments better.
In a game no Hawk will forget, Franklin booted an incredible 13.4 in one of the most dominating and exhilarating performances of the modern era.
Franklin was all the things he was in the opening two months, powerful, quick, skillful and having an impact around the ground without really hurting his opposition on the scoreboard.
But in this game, he was all that and more. He gathered 23 disposals, took seven marks and kicked 13 goals to easily be best on ground.
It seemed that match turned Franklin’s season around, kicking three bags of four and a five goal haul in the next four matches before suffering a hamstring injury in Round 15.
Missing six weeks can have players struggling to find form, particularly when their return isn’t until Round 22 - just two weeks before the finals.
That wasn’t the case for Franklin - booting eight goals in his next two games.
He kicked four goals against Sydney at the SCG in Round 22 and was one of the Hawks’ best as he provided the impetus for the comeback from 38 points down. He gave the Hawks the spark and found space when there was none in Hawthorn’s forward arc.
His finals series was what you’d expect from a champion of the game, powerful and at times dominating.
He kicked four goals against Collingwood in the Qualifying Final despite close attention from Collingwood’s Chris Tarrant.
Franklin showed maturity to at times sacrifice his own game - particularly in the first half, before taking the game by the scruff of the neck.
Two weeks later, in the Grand Final, he did the same thing, turned the game in the Hawks’ favour with thumping goals beyond the arc to bring the Hawks back into the game.
Kicking 69 goals in 19 matches almost makes you wonder what Franklin could have achieved in a full season. It is a though that is exciting for the Hawks heading into 2013, if Franklin can stay fit.
Could he again bag the ton like he did in 2008?
| GA | K | H | D | DE% | CP | UP | M | CL | T | I50 | G | PCM | |
| 2012 averages | 19 | 13.2 | 5.3 | 18.4 | 62 | 8.8 | 10.4 | 5.8 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 139 |
Franklin celebrates a goal in the Qualifying Final and pumps up the boys heading into half time.
Franklin in the news in 2012
A long four years: Franklin Lots of improvement left: Franklin Buddy's leadership kicking goalsVideos featuring Franklin in 2012
Franklin nails the goal Franklin kicks his 12th Franklin bags his 13th How did you rate Franklin's 2012 season? Leave your view below.
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