Tony Franklin

Arriving at the Lakeside Oval with a burgeoning reputation, Tony Franklin was a highly sought-after recruit from the Tasmanian club Penguin who carried the weight of immediate expectation. Upon joining South Melbourne in 1974, the versatile utility was handed the daunting honour of wearing the number 14 guernsey, made famous by the recently retired club legend Bob Skilton. Standing 185cm, Franklin was capable of playing as a key defender, forward, or second ruck, but his VFL playing career was severely hampered by chronic hamstring injuries that restricted him to just two seasons at the elite level. Despite his short playing tenure, he remained a dedicated servant to the Swans, returning as reserves coach and later serving as chairman of selectors; he famously stepped into the hot seat as caretaker senior coach for a solitary match in 1984 following the sudden illness of Ricky Quade.