West Coast lost to Sydney for the second time this AFL season, but coach Adam Simpson regards Lance Franklin’s relatively quiet night as a moral victory.
Franklin booted eight goals against the Eagles in round one, helping Sydney prevail in Perth.
The superstar was restricted to 2.5 at the SCG on Friday night, with teammates regularly dropping back to help out key defenders Jeremy McGovern and Shannon Hurn.
“It’s funny with Bud. Not much influence, but he’s had 18 touches and seven shots at goal,” Simpson told reporters.
“I was really happy with Gov’s game. He’s our only tall, we lost (Tom) Barrass early in the week to injury.
“For the most part, Gov played pretty well and Buddy still had moments where he looked like he was going to break the game open.
“Our back six, I thought they held up their end of the bargain.”
Franklin was awarded a series of free kicks in quick succession during the third term, with some pundits suggesting the legendary forward could possibly be in hot water for exaggerating contact during one marking contest with Hurn.
“It definitely influenced the umpire’s decision,” Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy.
“There was no free kick there.”
The Swans triumphed by 15 points on, ending the Eagles’ 10-match winning streak.
Simpson was disappointed with the result, but far from alarmed.
“They were the better side and we weren’t good enough on the night,” he said.
“We didn’t use the ball very well but I think we had 63 Inside 50s. If you could tell our boys that was going to happen, you’d take it.
“We got exposed in our front half with some of our younger players. I spoke to them before the game about playing on instinct and if it doesn’t work out, that’s OK.”