Franklin was on from the beginning. He kicked three goals in the first quarter; the first a regulation affair, the second hammered home from 50 metres with a wet ball, and the third a set kick around the corner from the boundary. He was matched by a newer name in George Hewett, who also kicked three in the first quarter.

Just in front: Lance Franklin leads Daniel Merrett to the ball on Sunday. Credit:Getty Images

It saw the classier Swans to an early 22-point lead, but the Lions were playing well, Dayne Zorko and Pearce Hanley in all the early skirmishes. They made up further ground in the second quarter, despite not making the best of their opportunities, keeping the margin to 14 points.

Enter Franklin. In the first minute of the second half he out-marked a hapless Daniel Merrett, held him off, got a step on him and slammed the ball through on his left, again from 50 metres with a greasy ball, without bothering to go back on the mark. Even the Lions fans had to applaud that one.

Still, their team was staying in the contest. Ryan Lester, not known for his goal-kicking prowess, kicked a couple; Ben Keays, impressive in his first game, answered a reply by Luke Parker, ditto Daniel Rich to Kurt Tippett's. And when Ryan Bastinac soccered one through, the Lions were just a point adrift, in the game to their necks.