Hawks' Buddy won't be Eagles' sole focus - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Hawks' Buddy won't be Eagles' sole focus

By Justin Chadwick 22/08/2008 07:08:28 PM Comments (0)

Buddymania has well and truly hit Perth but West Coast coach John Worsfold says his team can't afford to place too much emphasis on halting the Hawthorn star when the Eagles confront the Hawks at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

Lance `Buddy' Franklin needs just six more goals to become the first man since Tony Lockett in 1998 to bag 100 goals in the regular AFL season.

But with Jarryd Roughead (59 goals), Mark Williams (32) and Cyril Rioli (19) also lurking in Hawthorn's attacking 50, Worsfold said the Eagles had more to think about than just making sure Franklin didn't reach the ton this week.

"Really we are just going to back ourselves to play and whichever defender's on him, just back him in to do the best job they can," Worsfold said.

"(There will be) no emphasis on keeping it off him specifically or trying to change Hawthorn in the way they want to play.

"If he kicks his 100th goal and we're 18 goals to six up, I think our boys won't be too fussed."

Worsfold revealed captain Darren Glass was likely to get first crack at Franklin.

"I think Glassy can do a good job," Worsfold said.

"He's a good defender, a very good player and that's why we back him in."

But with Glass still battling a number of niggling injuries, Worsfold said Eric Mackenzie and Beau Wilkes were also in line to get a stint on Franklin.

"I'm sure they're aware that at some stage they'll be on them, because there's only one Darren Glass and there's Franklin and Roughead, so they'll both get opportunities on either one at different times," Worsfold said.

"They are looking forward to it. It's a huge challenge and that's what motivated young people should be looking for.

"They know how big a task it is, I don't need to motivate them to know they have to be at their absolute best to compete with them."

The Eagles regain forward Ashley Hansen and midfielder Sam Butler for the clash, with Tony Notte (omitted) and Brad Ebert (groin) the two to make way.

Hawthorn have lost star midfielder Brad Hodge to suspension and ruckman Robert Campbell to a virus but welcome back winger Clinton Young and 20-year-old ruckman Brent Renouf.

Meanwhile, Worsfold has warned Brett Ratten to prepare himself for a tough deal at the bargaining table after the Carlton coach expressed interest in star midfielder Daniel Kerr, who is contracted to the Eagles until the end of 2009.

"Give us Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy and Chris Judd and I would maybe consider it ... and (Matthew) Kreuzer," Worsfold said.

"And they are not getting Josh Kennedy back either, we are keeping him."

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