Lance Franklin's bid to become just the sixth VFL/AFL player to kick 1000 career goals will have to wait at least another six days after the Sydney superstar was held to just one major against GWS.
Franklin entered Saturday's match sitting on 995 goals, and he got off the mark with a goal at the 10-minute mark of the second term.
But he couldn't add to his tally, finishing the match with one goal from his eight disposals in the Swans' 20-point derby victory.
"We had to fight hard for it," Franklin told Fox Footy after the match.
"We had to fight to the death and we were fortunate enough to come away with the win."
Franklin was full of praise for teammate Luke Parker, who booted five goals in a match-winning effort.
"It was huge. He could have kicked six. We need those players stepping up," Franklin said.
Sydney take on Geelong at the SCG on Friday, and Franklin needs four more goals to join Tony Lockett (1360 goals), Gordon Coventry (1299), Jason Dunstall (1254), Doug Wade (1057) and Gary Ablett senior (1031) in the exclusive four-figures club.
"We understand the outside focus but we're just thrilled for the win, we're not on countdown watch," Swans' coach John Longmire said.
"It will happen when it happens."
For most of Saturday's game Franklin was shadowed and contained by his old GWS nemesis Phil Davis.
"It was a really good contest and Phil did extremely well against a superstar player," Giants coach Leon Cameron said.
"But did it come to the detriment of our back seven because we were beaten at ground level."
Franklin is in the final season of his mega nine-year, $10 million deal with Sydney, and he's left the door open to play on in 2023.
That would give him the perfect opportunity to overtake both Ablett and Wade to become the fourth most prolific goalkicker in VFL/AFL history.
Franklin is a dual Hawthorn premiership winner, eight-time All Australian, four-time Coleman medallist and 12-time leading goalkicker at his club - six times each at the Hawks and the Swans.
