WHAT is it about Lance Franklin and Essendon?
The man himself doesn't know, but there's no doubt he saves his best for the red and black.
The Hawthorn superstar added yet another chapter to his career-long dominance of the Bombers on Friday night, booting eight goals in a show-stealing display.
That came despite missing the past fortnight thanks to a burst cyst behind his right knee.
The 26-year-old has now kicked 50 goals in 10 games against Essendon, including at least four in each of the teams' last seven clashes.
As is his way, Franklin preferred to defer credit to his teammates in the aftermath of the 56-point victory.
But if his pride in his own performance was hidden, his delight at the Hawks' fourth straight win over the Bombers certainly wasn't.
"It was just pleasing to be back out there," Franklin told AFL.com.au after the match.
"After missing two weeks, I was jumping out of my skin to get back out there amongst the boys, and what better occasion than playing against Essendon and having a victory?
"It was one of our best performances of the season so far, I think, in terms of playing four quarters.
"The forwards contributed, and so did the mids and defenders.
"It was a terrific game by everyone."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson also spread his praise across all of his players, saying quick and precise ball movement through the middle of the ground had worked in the spearhead's favour.
"We moved the footy a little bit better tonight, which allows players to get on the move and run, and that's when 'Bud' plays his best footy," Clarkson said.
"So our ability to move the ball into our forward line pretty quickly enabled him to get on the move and find some space, particularly later on in the game."
Clarkson credited Franklin with putting in a "first-class" preparation in the lead-up to the top-of-the-table showdown after his fortnight out.
He said the club's caution around the injury stemmed from lessons learnt in 2012, when the four-time All Australian missed six weeks with a hamstring injury after playing against Greater Western Sydney when he wasn't fully fit.
"When he's fresh and fit, he's a really important player to us, so we just wanted to make sure he was right," Clarkson said.
As for the question of his dominance of the Bombers, Franklin was stuck for an answer.
Perhaps it's something to do with wearing the No.23, the same number worn by Dermott Brereton, a man central to the clubs' bitter rivalry during the 1980s.
"I don't know what it is," Franklin said.
"I just seem to kick goals against them."
