Sydney are battling to post big AFL scores despite their forward talent, with defender Nick Smith conceding they have sometimes focused too much on getting the ball to Lance Franklin.
Despite the presence of three-time Coleman Medallist Franklin in their forward line, fourth-placed Sydney still aren’t one of the competition’s higher scoring sides.
They are only seventh best with Collingwood and North Melbourne, both presently outside the top eight, among those clubs with higher scoring records.
Only three times this season have the Swans scored 100 or more points in a game.
They tallied paltry club season lows of seven goals and 57 points in last weekend’s thrashing by Hawthorn.
Former Hawk Franklin kicked three goals against his old club to take his career tally to 701, more than other current player,
With 42 goals, he is by far Sydney’s most productive scoring source, well ahead of the next best, Kurt Tippett, 25.
When coach John Longmire was asked earlier in the week if the Swans were too `Buddy-centric’, he pointed out his players struggled to hit any target, let alone Franklin, in the Hawthorn game.
Smith admitted Sydney had occasionally lapsed into that condition at times in the current campaign.
“I think it’s generally been okay during the year, probably a few games where we’ve gone to `Bud’ too much,” Smith said.
“That’s something we’ve got to keep working on, that we don’t want to just use him.
“It’s important if we want to score goals it’s got to be many contributors.”
Smith stressed the need for the Swans to be less predictable in their entries into theIr forward 50.
“If we do go to `Buddy’ all the time it becomes predictable and easier for sides to defend,” Smith said.
“It’s really important that we do have different avenues to goal.”
He emphasised it was the responsibility of both midfielders and forwards to manufacture more scoring opportunities.
“I think it’s definitely two-way,” Smith said,
“The guys kicking it in have got to have targets coming at them, but the mids can’t also be too one-eyed and just look for Buddy or just look for `Tippo.'”
