Former Geelong and GWS star Steve Johnson told a brilliant yarn about lining up against Hawks and Swans legend — and soon to be 350 game player — Buddy Franklin on a wing.
WHEN STEVE JOHNSON PLAYED ON BUDDY FRANKLIN ON A WING:
Stevie quickly realised he would battle defensively if Bud took off, so had to devise a tactic to make it work for him.
“There was an occasion at the MCG one day, Hawthorn v Geelong, and somehow we lined up on the wing together,” Stevie J said on the Sunday Rub.
“[It] was a little bit unusual, because neither of us played much through the wing.
“But we lined up, and I thought to myself, if he takes off forward there’s no way in the word I’m gonna be able to defend him…”
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Stevie’s tactic worked, so he went again at the next centre bounce.
“We lined back up on the wing once again, and I done exactly the same thing,” he said.
“Again, Geelong scored a goal, and Buddy followed me down there and he just said ‘you arrogant prick Johnson!’
“He still goes on about it when I see him!”
Daisy Thomas and Joey Montagna also shared stories about playing against Franklin, with Daisy telling a priceless story about Bud helping get him into a nightclub when he was 16 (and Buddy was 16!).
Joey, meanwhile, reckons he still has a handprint from a monster fend off from Bud at a stoppage at the SCG that turned into one of his hundreds of left foot snaps.
MORE FROM STEVE JOHNSON: Stevie J’s Ripping Yarn From The Time Spud Frawley Bailed Brad Ottens Out Of Jail
Buddy plays his 350th game on Thursday night against St Kilda at the SCG, another achievement to add to his glittering CV.
In the 349 games he’s played until now, Buddy has 1057 goals — the equal fifth most ever with Doug Wade — to go with 8 All-Australian blazers, 4 Coleman Medals, 2 flags, 2 goals of the year, 13 leading goalkicker awards (6 as a Hawk, 7 as a Swan), and a best and fairest at Hawthorn.
On Thursday he becomes just the 22nd man to play 350 games, and the fourth Indigenous player after Shaun Burgoyne, Adam Goodes, Eddie Betts.
MORE FROM THE SUNDAY RUB: Nathan Brown Recalls The Time He Fire Extinguished Warren Tredrea
You’ll be able to listen stream Triple M’s call of the game — and every other match this season — live on the the LiSTNR app.