Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
Sport

AFL star Lance Franklin booed by Collingwood fans at MCG, baffling Sydney Swans' coach John Longmire

Lance Franklin had an afternoon to forget as the Sydney Swans faded against Collingwood at the MCG. (AAP: Joel Carrett )

AFL great Lance Franklin has become the latest star player to be booed by opposition fans, leaving Sydney coach John Longmire bemused and Collingwood counterpart Craig McRae nonplussed.

Franklin, a likely future member of the Australian football Hall Of Fame, had a goalless game as the Magpies kicked clear in the last term on Sunday to beat Sydney by 29 points at the MCG.

The Magpies' ground out an 11.11 (77) to 6.12 (48) win in chilly conditions attracted 71,463 fans, some of whom decided Franklin was their villain for the afternoon.

"I don't know why they would — why were they booing him?," Longmire said post-match

"You'd probably celebrate a 36-year-old, wouldn't you, who's been a champion of the game?

"It's been 10 years since we've played Collingwood here … it doesn't make sense."

McRae put it succinctly: "We just don't boo".

Collingwood fans were the first to boo Port Adelaide young gun Jason Horne-Francis earlier this season, after he sought an exit from struggling North Melbourne at the end of last season, and it became a weekly occurrence, eventually prompting a heated response from Power coach Ken Hinkley.

A career-best five goals from Brody Mihocek, including a spectacular mid-air strike in the last quarter, plus an outstanding captain's game from Darcy Moore and Jack Ginnivan's second-half cameo, highlighted the Magpies' win.

Named as a sub, Jack Ginnivan (right) provided late inspiration for the Magpies. (AAP: Joel Carrett)

The victory keeps the Magpies at the top of the ladder, while the Swans have lost three in a row and are struggling with a 3-5 record.

Mihocek was the only multiple goal-kicker in the tough conditions and the Magpies sealed the win with five goals to one in the last term.

"Like the last two or three games, our pressure in the last quarter goes to another level," McRae said.

"Teams right now are struggling with that."

Moore was a brick wall in defence and continually thwarted the Swans.

Ginnivan, named as the sub, came on in the third term and immediately gave Collingwood much-needed spark.

He also kicked a last-term goal as the Magpies surged clear.

Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury had a team-high 31 possessions, while Swans young gun Errol Gulden racked up 37 possessions.

AAP/ABC

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.