Life after Buddy: How Swans have learned to share the workload

June 21, 2024 Tsetim Theophilus sydney swans 0

 Before this season began, many Sydney Swans fans were plagued by a single question: what would the team look like without Lance Franklin, who had retired? Franklin, celebrated for his 1066 goals over 354 games with Hawthorn and Sydney, had been a dominant force in their attack, leaving uncertainty about how the Swans would adapt without his star power.

Last year, despite playing just 13 games, Franklin remained a pivotal figure, accounting for 31% of Sydney’s inside-50 targets in 2023. This dependence underscored the challenge of replacing the future Hall of Famer. Logan McDonald, next in line among forwards, contributed only 12%.

This season, however, the Swans have revamped their offensive strategy, diversifying their approach beyond traditional key forwards. This shift has empowered midfielders like Brownlow Medal hopefuls Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney to take on greater scoring responsibilities. The team now averages 9.2 goalkickers per game, the highest in the AFL, showcasing their broadened threat across the field. For comparison, Carlton averages 8.5 per game, and Collingwood follows with 8.2.

Tom Papley celebrates a goal during the Swans’ remarkable come-from-behind win over Geelong
Tom Papley celebrates a goal during the Swans’ remarkable come-from-behind win over Geelon

McDonald, who is out of contract next season, was seen as the man to step into Franklin’s goalscoring boots, but the 22-year-old has largely been placed at half-forward, where he has provided a target for his midfielders without necessarily translating his work into goals.

McDonald’s role is unglamorous but valuable, providing space for his teammates to thrive while keeping the defence guessing.

Last season’s top goalkicker Tom Papley admitted life after Buddy had been carefully planned by the Swans to ensure that there was a greater spread of goalkickers who could contribute to the team at any time in the game.

“I think that’s from the pre-season,” Papley said. “We’re a very unselfish team where we share the workload around in the midfield, we pass it off down into the forwards and help each other out all over the field.

“That holds us in good stead and that’s what we want to be known as: an unselfish team that helps each other out.”

AFL 2024: How Sydney Swans have shared the workload after Lance Franklin's retirement

Papley remans one of the competition’s elite small forwards, averaging 1.6 goals a game this season, but has been happy to see share the load with his teammates, including key forward Joel Amartey who kicked a career-high of nine goals in last Saturday’s 42 win against Adelaide.

“It’s been a good year for the forwards,” Papley said. “I think we’ve worked together well. “I probably don’t have the stats and the goals like I usually do, but I think I’ve been helping us to have a team focus and helping other guys get in the game while trying to make a team environment.

“If you look at forwards, there’s a lot more of an even spread. Even the midfielders are kicking goals, so it’s been good.

“Obviously, I’d like to go a bit better personally, but it’s not fazing me at all when we’re winning, I don’t really care about the stats, I just care about winning, and that’s what we keep doing.”

The Swans take on a Giants side reeling from the loss of star defender Sam Taylor to injury, a man Swans coach John Longmire described on Tuesday as “probably the best defender going around the competition at the moment.”

Either Jack Buckley or Leek Aleer will take the responsibility of keeping Swans danger man Joel Amartey quiet, but both will also be patently aware that goals can come from every angle from this Sydney team.

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