The 27-year-old, who has kicked 23 goals in his last six matches, has been one of the club’s standout performers and played an important role in recent victories over Port Adelaide and Richmond, where he kicked five and four goals, respectively.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Franklin, who battled knee and quad injuries earlier in the year, said his recent performances were a direct result of being a regular on the training track.
“I’ve been able to get on the track over the last five to six weeks, and I put (my form) down to being able to get some consistent training and getting out there amongst the boys and learn the team structures and how we like to play,” he said.
“I’d put it down to just that consistent training and being able to get out on the track week in, week out and that’s probably where my form has come from.”
In addition to his impact on the scoreboard, Franklin’s influence around the ground can’t be overlooked, with the forward averaging over 18 possessions per game, five marks and three tackles over the last six matches.
Despite posting impressive numbers, Franklin said he preferred to contribute to the team’s performance rather than simply focusing on his own game.
“I think I’ve been talked up a little bit, but I’m just playing my role for the footy club,” he said.
“I don’t go into a game saying I’m going to get this many kicks, or this many marks, or this many goals, I just want to go out there and play my role for the footy club.
“If the goals come, or the marks come, then they come, but it doesn’t really matter as long as we’re winning games of football.”
Franklin could be reunited with fellow tall Kurt Tippett this weekend when the Swans host GWS at the SCG, with the Swans' number eight in the mix to make his return from a knee injury.
The pair combined for 23 goals in the three matches they played together before Tippett sustained his injury, and Franklin said he couldn’t wait for his big forward-line partner to return to the side.
“It does help having ‘Tippo’ back in the side,” he said.
“I think anyone would love a Tippett in their side as he has such a big presence up forward and he always takes a good defender with him.
“Hopefully he’ll be out there this weekend with me.
“He’s going to train today, so hopefully he can get out there and train with the boys and get through, and if he gets through today then he’s a good chance to play on Saturday night against GWS, which will be a cracking game.”
Looking ahead to Saturday night’s game, Franklin said the Swans were wary of GWS’s recent form, including their impressive eight-point win over Carlton last weekend.
He said the Swans would need to improve on last week’s performance against Richmond, which saw the club post an 11-point win in a low-scoring affair.
“Last week against Richmond we probably let ourselves down a little bit, but that’s in the past now and we just look to getting out there and playing GWS on Saturday,” he said.
“In their last three or four weeks they’ve been playing some really good football.
“They’ve got some really good young kids coming through and also some really good senior players there who are playing some really good football.
“GWS have been playing pretty good football for the last couple of weeks, so we’ll have our work cut out against a quality outfit and we’re looking forward to the challenge on Saturday night in front of what will hopefully be a big crowd again.”
