Franklin had comfortably his most opportunities in front of goal for the Swans against Hawthorn last week and could have had a decent bag if not for his wayward 2.7 return.
And, looking at his career record, the former Hawk should be relishing a match-up with the Bombers on Friday night.
Franklin's career average goals per game stands at 3.14, but against Essendon it spikes to five goals per game, producing an even 50 in 10 appearances against Hawthorn's great rival.
And Buddy helped his Hawks to seven wins in those contests.
His career highlights against the Bombers include:
Early days
Franklin started playing against the Bombers in his rookie year of 2005, but didn't get hold of them until round six, 2007. He kicked 9.2 that day as an improving young Hawks outfit recorded a 35-point win. The following season he was at it again, kicking 9.5 as Hawthorn geared up for its march to the 2008 premiership.
Sheedy throws his hat in the ring
On July 13, 2006, a 19-year-old Franklin was uncontracted and then-Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy confirmed his club was interested in signing him. Essendon was stuck on one win at the time on its way to one of Sheedy's worst years at the helm and he was keen to bring in some new talent to boost their flagging fortunes. "We'll look into every player that we think could take Essendon forward, whether it's him or any one of 12 others - our job is to go and find them and we will," he said. Ultimately it all came to naught as Buddy would re-sign and spend the next seven seasons in brown and gold.
More highlight reels
In 2010 he kicked 10.7 over two games against the Bombers. One of those games included his stunning highlight in the fourth quarter of the round 13 win at the MCG. Franklin gathered possession in front of Essendon's Cale Hooker on the wing and led him a merry dance all the way down the boundary line before kicking an audacious goal from a ridiculous angle. Hooker has said in the past, understandably, he's pretty sick of seeing that replay.
One last reminder on the way out
In what would prove to be his final match against Essendon in a Hawthorn jumper, in round 18 last year, he tore them apart once more to the tune of 8.3. He would end that season again accepting a second premiership medallion on Grand Final day before packing his bags to head to Sydney.
Sheedy makes one last play
As we all know, Franklin was linked with Greater Western Sydney throughout the 2013 season before he stunned the competition with his switch to the Swans. In his 29th and final season as an AFL coach, Sheedy had one last crack at getting his man, appealing to the superstar throughout that season about the virtues of becoming a Giant. Alas, he would be thwarted once more. On Friday, Franklin meets the old foe wearing red and white for the first time, but it would be fair to bet there will be a familiar script.
Twitter: @AFL_JD
