Expect improvement as Hawthorn spearhead Lance Franklin jokes about missed ...

Evasive tactics:Lance Franklin tries to get around Crows defender Ben Rutten on Saturday. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
Source: Herald Sun

Source: Herald Sun

STAR Hawk Lance Franklin says Hawthorn must improve and play four quarters to beat Sydney in Saturday’s Grand Final.

He said the Hawks failed to take full advantage of their inside-50s and kicked inaccurately against Adelaide in Saturday night’s five-point preliminary final win.

Speaking at Waverley Park yesterday, Franklin said the Hawks could and needed to play better.

“Sydney are a great side, too, and they play four quarters of football every week, so it’s going to be a tough day for us,” Franklin said.

The key forward kicked poorly in front of goal and finished with 3.3.

He jokingly blamed former club president Jeff Kennett for his inaccuracy.

“I think I had Jeff Kennett’s boots on, the way I was kicking,” he said.

“Obviously, I didn’t kick straight, as I would have liked to, and as I said, we didn’t take the opportunities and I was disappointed in myself.

“But we were able to win.”

Franklin said it had been a long four years since Hawthorn’s last Grand Final appearance when it scored an upset victory against Geelong in 2008.

And last year’s three-point loss to Collingwood in the preliminary final had motivated the team.

“We are excited that we have got ourselves in a position to play in a Grand Final, so yeah, it’s taken a little bit longer than probably expected,” Franklin said.

He described the game against the Crows as unbelievable and said the opposition was super.

“It was a great win and we just needed to take our opportunities a bit better,” Franklin said.

“We missed a lot of set shots and snaps.

“This week we need to take our opportunities when we can because otherwise it can cost us.”

Franklin said the team would benefit from not having played at its best against the Crows.

“I think it is a good thing,” he said.

“Looking from the outside, you could probably say we were a little bit off our game, which we were. So we are just excited that we have got ourselves in a position to play in a Grand Final.”

Source:
http://www.news.ezonearticle.com/2012/09/23/expect-improvement-as-hawthorn-spearhead-lance-franklin-jokes-about-missed/