Franklin's 2008 campaign is the standard by which he is often measured, when he kicked a stunning 113 goals as a 21-year-old to earn his first premiership, All Australian jumper and Coleman Medal.
While the century goalkicking mark is unlikely to be reached again, Franklin's form over his past six weeks has been among the most scintillating of his 10 seasons at the highest level.
Tippett, McGlynn could return for Giants rematch
Since kicking 2.7 on his return from a knee injury against Hawthorn in round eight, 'Buddy' has been in outstanding goalkicking form, registering 21.10 in five straight wins.
His tally includes 5.1 against Essendon in round nine and four straight goals from a team total of nine in Friday's scrappy triumph over Richmond.
Franklin is fifth in this year's Coleman race with 35 goals from 12 games, is averaging 16 possessions and 5.3 marks per game, and even equalled a career best with seven tackles against the Tigers.
He has also moved into ninth in voting for the AFL Coaches Association player of the year award.
But don't try telling Franklin he is nearing top form just yet.
"Not necessarily," he told reporters ahead of training at the SCG on Tuesday.
"I think it's been talked up a little bit, but I'm just playing my role for the footy club and I'm enjoying it.
"I've been able to get on the track the last five or six weeks and I put it down to that.
"I'm getting out there amongst the boys and learning the team structures and how we like to play."
When the game was there to be won against Port Adelaide two weeks ago, Franklin kicked the Swans' final five goals, including one incredible effort from 70 metres out in a four-point win over the league leaders.
On Friday night, the Swans trailed by 26 points in the second term in a low scoring game, but kicked the only two goals of the final quarter, both off Franklin’s boot, in another narrow triumph.
Friday showreel: Franklin in fine form against Tigers
"He's going well," coach John Longmire said. "He's been able the last few weeks to kick some important goals at crunch times.
"That's what makes him such a good player.
"To be able to go back, clear his mind and kick those important goals at critical times is a great trait to have."
Franklin has always had trouble with his accuracy, registering a massive 88 behinds in that lauded 2008 season.
He managed just 69.64 in 2012, but Wayne Carey feels he has improved in front of goal this season.
"He's got that little bit of left to right, which is what generally a left footer does, but I think he's hitting them sweeter than I've seen him hit them before," Carey said during commentary for the Richmond game.
"He's really lost that inconsistency with the way the ball swings.
"It swings exactly like a left-footer should swing now."
This week Franklin will try to help the Swans win their 10th consecutive game when they face Greater Western Sydney at the SCG.
Franklin made a highly inauspicious start to his life in red and white against the Giants in round one, finishing with just four kicks and one goal in a huge upset loss.
He still views his time as a Swan as a work in progress, although he has lofty goals ahead of him.
When he signed with the club he regularly mentioned September success as one of the key reasons and it seems he already has one eye on the business end of the year.
"That's what we play football for, to win premierships and go as deep as we can into September," he said.
"We're still a long from that at the moment and from playing the best football we can, but we know if we set a few things in place as a team, we can go a long way."
Twitter: @AFL_JD
"He's going well," coach John Longmire said. "He's been able the last few weeks to kick some important goals at crunch times.
"That's what makes him such a good player.
"To be able to go back, clear his mind and kick those important goals at critical times is a great trait to have."
Franklin has always had trouble with his accuracy, registering a massive 88 behinds in that lauded 2008 season.
He managed just 69.64 in 2012, but Wayne Carey feels he has improved in front of goal this season.
"He's got that little bit of left to right, which is what generally a left footer does, but I think he's hitting them sweeter than I've seen him hit them before," Carey said during commentary for the Richmond game.
"He's really lost that inconsistency with the way the ball swings.
"It swings exactly like a left-footer should swing now."
This week Franklin will try to help the Swans win their 10th consecutive game when they face Greater Western Sydney at the SCG.
Franklin made a highly inauspicious start to his life in red and white against the Giants in round one, finishing with just four kicks and one goal in a huge upset loss.
He still views his time as a Swan as a work in progress, although he has lofty goals ahead of him.
When he signed with the club he regularly mentioned September success as one of the key reasons and it seems he already has one eye on the business end of the year.
"That's what we play football for, to win premierships and go as deep as we can into September," he said.
"We're still a long from that at the moment and from playing the best football we can, but we know if we set a few things in place as a team, we can go a long way."
Twitter: @AFL_JD
