The thought may send a shudder down AFL minnows Gold Coast’s spine but Suns hardman Campbell Brown hopes recovering Hawthorn star Lance Franklin does run out against them at the MCG on Sunday.
The second-last Suns are hardly in a position to hand out threats after ending their 17-game losing run at home by beating the only side tipped to finish beneath them on the AFL ladder – Greater Western Sydney.
Especially before lining up against a Hawks outfit expected to finally welcome back Franklin from a hamstring injury after a five-week absence.
However, no one doubts Brown’s toughness – and Franklin would be forgiven for being a little wary after his ex-teammate reckoned he had a score to settle this weekend.
Brown said he owed Franklin one from the last time the pair tangled in Hawthorn’s 71-point, round 13 win last year.
He may have won a 2008 AFL flag with Franklin but he has been itching for payback after missing the chance when the Hawks star was one of eight players rested the last time the sides met in round 24, 2011.
“Buddy (Franklin) got me a ripper in the back pocket there so I remember that,” Brown said on Wednesday.
“I hope he plays. I hope he comes back from his hammy.
“I didn’t play that well (the last time they met) so I’m pretty keen to make amends.”
Franklin has not played since breaking down against GWS in round 15 but has been all but cleared by Hawks football manager Mark Evans.
“The last two weeks I thought he was going to play,” Evans told the Hawthorn website.
“I’m expecting him to play this week.”
Brown laughed that there had been no love lost with the rest of his ex-teammates.
“I’m still very close to a lot of the Hawks boys and they’ve texted me already telling me I’m in the gun and that they’re going to put a bit of work into me,” Brown smiled.
“(It is) nothing that I don’t expect.
“Hopefully it’s a fantastic game for us and they’re one of the benchmark sides in the competition so I’m really looking forward to it.”
With three regular season games left, Hawthorn are gunning for a top two finish while the Suns are trying to avoid their second straight wooden spoon.
But Brown said he had “absolutely no regrets” departing the high flying Hawks for the lowly Suns two seasons ago.
“I knew they were in that premiership window and were a chance last year or this year to contend so you make that decision and once you have that’s final and no regrets at all,” he said.
At 28, Brown hinted that he would call it quits when his contract expires at the end of 2013.
“I’d be very surprised if I go on,” he said.