A SETTLED Lance Franklin is confident he is in for another good year after completing a first uninterrupted pre-season with the Sydney Swans.
After a shaky start with the Swans last year, Franklin adjusted well and completed an impressive debut season with his new club.
He won the Coleman Medal with 79 goals, his third best goal tally in a season, finished third in the club’s best and fairest award and polled 22 Brownlow votes to finish equal second in the count.
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It was a good response to critics who doubted he could offer the Swans what he provided to Hawthorn after signing a nine-year deal with the Sydney club as a restricted free agent.
Franklin performed well on Grand Final day with four goals but the Swans lost heavily to his former team Hawthorn.
Speaking at the club's season launch on Tuesday night, Franklin said his confidence was based on being able to complete more sessions this pre-season than he had previously.
"This year I’ve been able to get out there a bit more than last year," Franklin said.
"On the back of that I’m pretty confident I’m in for a good season."
The key forward is likely to play against Fremantle at Drummoyne Oval on Sunday in his first NAB Challenge game for the year.
He said he was confident his body was ready to withstand the rigours that lay ahead.
"It’s a long season, there’s plenty of ups and downs, but I’m going in with full confidence my body is going to hold up and hold me in good stead," Franklin said.
The Swans will once again be without their other high profile recruit Kurt Tippett who has a leg injury, however coach John Longmire has expressed confidence that the 27-year-old will be available to play Essendon in round one.
