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Lance Franklin closes in on century
By Sam Lienert
12:30 AEST Sat Aug 2 2008


Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin is fast closing in on becoming the first player in a decade to kick 100 goals in an AFL home and away season, helped by a stellar performance against Collingwood.

The 21-year-old kicked eight majors in Friday night's 17.14 (116) to 8.14 (62) win at the MCG, taking his tally to 85 with four rounds to play.

Such was his dominance over Collingwood's Nick Maxwell, he was able to take 12 marks, pick up 21 possessions and have 15 shots on goal, including six behinds and one shanked shot which failed to register.

It prompted Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse to speculate that he could one day break the all-time record of 18 goals in a game.

The last player to reach the century mark in the regular season was the league's goal-kicking record-holder Tony Lockett and the list of players to have done so is a roll-call of the game's great forwards.

But Franklin said it was not an achievement he was focussed on.

"To be honest, I haven't really thought about that at all," he said.

"I'm just playing every game on its merits and just keep playing consistent football and if that comes, it comes."

The one query on his performance this season has been his shooting from goal, particularly over the past five or six rounds.

Friday night's showing in that department was again erratic, including some fine snaps and set shots from tight angles, but some easy misses from directly in front.

But Franklin said while he was constantly working on his kicking, he was not overly concerned providing he was contributing to Hawthorn wins.

"It doesn't really come into my head, if I'm kicking goals and points are still there and we're winning, I've got no problem with it," he said.

Likewise, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said to focus on some missed shots from goal would be overly picky, given what Franklin gave to the side.

"We're pleased with the contribution he makes for our footy club," Clarkson said.

"There's a lot of people out there that seem to be displeased with it, but we're pretty happy with the contribution that he makes.

"Maybe there might be an opportunity for the media to focus on the guys that can't get the footy, rather than the guy that can get the footy and then focus on the goal-kicking.

"The way that we look at it, he is a very very dangerous forward and what it's doing is opposition sides are starting to double-team him and that's going to create opportunities for other forwards in the side."

The Hawks' one concern to come out of Friday night's game was when key defender Trent Croad went off in the third term after twisting his left knee in a marking contest.

But he returned to the field late in the match and the club was confident there would be no lasting ill effects.

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