SYDNEY Swans star Lance Franklin has dismissed suggestions that a win in Saturday's Grand Final would justify his lucrative move from Hawthorn.
Not surprisingly, Franklin was a wanted man at the Swans' open media day at the SCG on Monday, five days ahead of his side's clash with the Western Bulldogs that will determine the 2016 premiers.
The triple Coleman medallist left the Hawks less than two weeks after winning the 2013 premiership to take up a nine-year, $10 million deal with the Swans in a move that shocked the footy world.
But the gun goalkicker said adding a third flag to his resume – and his first with the Swans – was all about finishing off an outstanding season with his mates, rather than proving anything to outsiders.
"I love playing football and living in Sydney, and I don't have to justify it by winning a premiership," Franklin said.
"We find ourselves in the position of being able to win one, and I'll be doing everything I possibly can to get that."
Franklin's most recent trip to the last game of the season ended badly when the Swans copped a 63-point belting from the Hawks in 2014, while he missed last year's finals series to seek treatment after his mental health issues flared.
The 29-year-old said neither the result of two years ago nor his absence last season added any extra incentive or pressure to this week's match.
Instead, as one of the Swans' most experienced players, he planned to stress to his younger teammates the importance of taking their opportunities.
"Everyone is hungry to get out there, it's a Grand Final, and I'm no different to anyone else," he said.
"I think any Grand Final you lose, the blokes that played know that feeling, and it's not a good one.
"We've got some really strong leaders at the football club who can give the young boys advice on how to go about it, but at the end of the day, it's just another game.
"You can probably get a little bit sucked in, and overawed by it.
"Obviously it's a massive occasion but I'll just treat it exactly the same as any other game.
"It's obviously a really big one, but you just go about it like you normally do and enjoy it."
The dual-premiership Hawk and six-time All Australian admitted to being extremely impressed by the Bulldogs' stirring win over Greater Western Sydney, and especially by the rolling team defence they played.
"I watched the game on the weekend and they were unbelievable," he said.
"They've got themselves a shot at winning a Grand Final, so you've got to be relentless to make it to October.
"They're a really good team and have stars all over the field, so we're going to have to be at our best to beat them.
"They've had a lot of injuries but they've had people come in and play their role for the footy club.
"That's what (coach Luke) Beveridge has done and they've been super this year."
