Lance Franklin is getting serious after some Brownlow night banter
SYDNEY Swans superstar Lance Franklin has had some text banter with his former Hawthorn teammates and is tipping a hostile environment in Saturday's Grand Final.
He was part of the Hawthorn team that lost to the Swans in the 2012 decider.
Asked if there had been any banter with his ex-Hawks teammates in Grand Final week, Franklin said "a little bit last night on the Brownlow".
"They shot me a few text messages, but a lot of the boys have kept pretty quiet and just getting prepared for a big game," he said.
He thought good friend Josh Gibson could again get the job on him after marking him earlier this season.
Franklin said playing Hawthorn twice already this year was a positive for him.
"They've been a quality outfit all season and played some really good football," Franklin said of Hawthorn.
"It's worked out that we play Hawthorn, my old club. In saying that once we cross the line it's just another game.
"No doubt there's going to be nerves going into the game. Most players going out onto the field will be nervous, I think excited at the same time too, just to go get that opportunity to play in the big one.
"I can't wait to get out there and hopefully play a good game and the team gets a good win."
Franklin has been booed in Melbourne this season and doesn't anticipate a friendly atmosphere for the team this Saturday.
"It's going to be a hostile environment, something that a lot of these (Sydney Swans) boys have experienced already in 2012," Franklin said.
"There's a lot of experience in the change rooms that has been done there and done it, so we've got full confidence in ourselves that we can get the job done.”
This week’s episode of ‘More than Footy’, presented by Bing Lee features Australian super welterweight champion Nikita Tszyu, son of former world champion Kostya Tszyu, and younger brother of Tim. Ahead of his title defence fight on Wednesday night, Nikita reveals what his preparations look like, the influence his famous father had on his journey into the professional ring, and how his nickname ‘The Butcher’ came about.
02:11
Swans introduce Dean Moore Award
The Sydney Swans have introduced a new award recognises a Sydney Swans staff member who has best embodied the Club’s values of Respect, Discipline, Courage and Conviction in that calendar year.
01:06
Round 6 Moments that Matter, presented by Fiserv
We captured the post-game celebrations of Brodie Grundy's 200th game, including some wholesome moments with this family who came to watch him celebrate the milestone.
00:47
Mark of the Week - Round 6
Tom Papley leaps from just inside the boundary to take an incredible mark in the third quarter against the Gold Coast Suns.