When talented utility Tony Franklin joined South Melbourne from Tasmanian club Penguin, he was lumbered with great expectations.
He was handed the Club’s most iconic number – 14 – worn by triple Brownlow Medallist Bob Skilton and 1933 premiership defender and former coach Bill Faul, among others.
Franklin, through no fault of his own, never quite lived up to the hype surrounding his decision to join the Swans ahead of a queue of clubs trying to win his services.
The Tasmanian, who could excel in any position, retired from VFL football for business reasons after just two seasons with the Swans for 32 games and 11 goals.
He played briefly with VFA (now VFL) club Sandringham before accepting the position of chairman of selectors with the Swans.
Then, halfway through the 1984 season, he found himself in the coaching hotseat when coach Rick Quade took ill and was hospitalised.
Franklin was appointed interim coach and found himself in charge of the senior side for the SCG match against Collingwood in Round 14.
The Swans had lost their previous four matches, whereas the Magpies were well in the race for the finals. The Swans were also handicapped by the absence of captain Barry Round, who was dropped for poor form, with one newspaper critic suggesting just a couple of weeks earlier that the big-hearted ruckman should retire.
The Swans started well against the Magpies to lead by six points at the first break and trail by just five points at half-time.
However, the Swans had a horror third quarter in which Magpie full-forward Jim McAllester was instrumental in his side kicking eight goals.
The Swans trailed by 32 points at the final break, but were given a glimmer of hope when first-year player Paul Hawks, from the Wagga Tigers, goaled within 30 seconds of the start of the final quarter.
Collingwood, however, ended all Swan hopes with two goals in quick reply to win by 31 points.
Franklin said at his post-match press conference: “I thought we could have won the game, but the loss of Bill Picken with a hamstring injury jolted our approach.
“There were some positive signs today and we have to look for pointers. David Rhys-Jones was up there this week, for example, and back to what we need.”
Franklin, a great Swans loyalist, indicated immediately that he did not want the coaching position on a permanent basis.
He explained that he was based in Melbourne in a senior position in the transport industry and the Swans therefore had to find a new coach.
Club officials therefore flew to Adelaide the following Tuesday and convinced South Australian football legend Bob Hammond, who had coached SANFL club Norwood from 1974-79, to take over for the rest of the season.
Hammond was impressive in his eight games (for three wins), however former Richmond half-forward John Northey was eventually appointed as Swans coach for the 1985 season.
