When Buddy Franklin arrived in Sydney in 2014, he didn’t just change the forward line; he changed the future of the club. The year prior, the Swans finished a respectable fourth but failed to win the Grand final like they had done in the memorable 2012. That season, the ‘Bloods’ were led by a formidable midfield that included players like Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack, and Ryan O’Keefe; however, they lacked a generational key forward capable of winning games single-handedly. In 2014, the Swans realised they had finally had enough. In the Summer of 2013, they put all their eggs, or I should say dollars, in the basket, convincing Lance to sign an extraordinary nine-year, $10 million deal. It didn’t take long for Lance to convince the diehard Swans fans of his talent. He finished the 2014 season with a remarkable 81 goals in the red and white. After that season, Lance never slowed down. He finished his time in the harbour with 1000+ career goals and 4 Coleman medals. More than just a recruit, Franklin was a statement of ambition and remains one of the most influential players of the modern era.
A decade after Buddy’s arrival, the Swans again find themselves on the edge of contention. While the performances of last year were unacceptable, the midfield remains strong and the defensive structure is sound. Just like 2014, they have an extraordinary midfield that includes Heaney, Goulden and Warner. History has proven that this engine room alone can win games, but unfortunately, recent Grand Final losses dictate that once again, questions remain if the Swans need a dominant key forward to decide the finals.
Those questions lingered until the summer of 2025, when the Swans stunned the competition once again.
Curnow’s credentials are simply undeniable. A dual Coleman Medallist, he has produced consecutive 60-goal seasons and averaged close to three goals per game at his peak. At 194 cm, he combines aerial dominance with outstanding mobility, regularly demanding the opposition’s best defender and creating space for everyone around him. These traits and facts already illustrate him as the second coming of Lance.
Where Franklin dazzled the crowd with his unpredictability, Curnow wins with structure and precision. He does not arrive with premiership experience like Franklin did from Hawthorn, but maybe the Swans don’t need a replica of Buddy. They just need a dominant forward that is reliable inside 50 when the stakes are highest.
Just like when Lance arrived, Curnow is going to bring concerns and questions. Will he fit seamlessly into Sydney’s team-first system? Could salary cap pressures restrict the club’s flexibility and most importantly, can he deliver consistently in the hostile atmosphere of September?
Every Swans fan will be hoping that Curnow can elevate them from a contender into a premiership threat. Franklin once proved this dream was possible. Curnow has shown he possesses the numbers, talent and attitude to attempt it. When Buddy arrived in Sydney, not only did he bring premiership experience and a truckload of skill, he brought hope. A hope for a bright future. And when 50,000 fans roar Big Charlie’s name at the SCG, carrying that same hope Franklin once inspired, it may mark the rise of the Swans’ second saviour.