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AAP
AAP
Sport
Roger Vaughan

AFL's 'Buddy watch' switches to SCG

Sydney star Lance Franklin is four away from reaching the AFL's 1000-goal milestone. (AAP)

Just as GWS defenders felt some relief after last Saturday, Geelong's backmen will have had sleepless nights ahead of Friday night at the SCG.

No-one wants to be remembered as playing on Sydney great Lance Franklin when he joins the AFL's 1000-goal club.

After a stat-less first quarter at Accor Stadium, Franklin only managed one goal against the Giants to give "Buddy watch" at least another week of life.

He is four short of becoming just the sixth player to reach the milestone and teammate Harry Cunningham says they hope he can do it at their home ground.

Franklin's Swans predecessor Tony Lockett brought up his all-time record 1300th goal in 1999 at the SCG.

"It's a pretty monumental milestone. I don't reckon anyone will be able to do it again," Cunningham said.

"He (Franklin) is a once-in-a-generation player, one of the greatest of all time.

"It's a pretty special moment and we'd love for him to do it at the SCG.

"You're not surprised, with some of the stuff Bud's been able to do on the footy field."

Cunningham said the 35-year-old had pulled up well, despite the short turnaround, and will be ready for the Cats.

While all eyes will be on Franklin, at the other end of the ground Geelong have named key forward Jeremy Cameron in their side.

He was taken to hospital after a collision in their round-one win over Essendon.

The Cats will also regain Mitch Duncan (calf) and Jed Bews (concussion), but Sam De Koning is out because of concussion and Shaun Higgins is being rested.

Sydney have recalled Jake Lloyd and Chad Warner as a knee injury sidelines Justin McInerney.

Sydney are coming off a 20-point win over the Giants, where they rallied from a slow start to pull away after half-time.

"We probably let them score a bit too easily ... in the first half," Cunningham said.

"Particularly us defenders, we looked at that pretty closely and how they were able to score every time they went forward."

Sydney can ill afford to give Geelong any of that latitude, given how the Cats tore Essendon apart in round one for their 66-point win.

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