HAWTHORN forward Lance Franklin is a player who has done it all and continues to do it all.
Since making his debut for the Hawks back in 2005, 'Buddy' has kicked 535 goals, won a premiership, a best and fairest, and been selected in the All Australian team four times.
Official AFL Player Ratings: full coverage
The 26-year-old's standing in the game has been confirmed by the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Vero, in which Franklin sat at No.7 after round four.
Franklin ranks highly in several key categories that are considered when calculating a player's rating, but the key to his position in the ratings is his long-term consistency.
Champion Data's statistics show that since the start of the 2011 season Franklin has kicked 166 goals - 20 more than any other player.
He also ranks equal ninth for total score assists and equal third for tackles inside 50.
"He's one of the few players in our comp who can single-handedly win games," Brisbane Lions co-captain Jonathan Brown told AFL.com.au.
You might think Franklin should be even higher up the list, but his accuracy in front of goal (only 49 per cent of his shots at goal have yielded full points) brings him back to the pack.
Franklin has also given away 69 free kicks inside the forward 50 since the start of 2011, which is 28 more than any other player in the competition.
The Official AFL Player Ratings will be launched on Thursday, May 9.
Theratings are the result of the most sophisticated, detailed andwide-ranging statistical system ever devised for AFL footy, Official AFLPlayer ratings will allow fans to determine where more than 650 listedplayers rank against each other.
A player's most recent 40 matches are used in the calculation of his rating.
If you are keen to find out exactly how the ratings work, you can read the initial FAQ here.
Inthe meantime, we are counting down to launch with a series of exclusivevideos in which the top-rated players are discussed and analysed bythose with a unique insight into their genius – their opponents.
OnMonday, star Carlton midfielder Chris Judd was revealed as No.10, thenon Tuesday Sydney Swans dynamo Josh Kennedy was unveiled as No.9.
Blues skipper Marc Murphy was next up at No.8. Franklin is the fourth cab off the rank.
"Hekicks goals late in games, dribbling bananas through," North Melbourneforward Drew Petrie said. "When Hawthorn needs someone to stand up, he'stheir man."
Added Franklin's teammate, Sam Mitchell: "He's kicked so many important goals at so many important times."
Make sure you log onto AFL.com.au on Friday to find out which player is No.6.
*Thetop 10 that we are counting down in the lead-up to the launch of theOfficial AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Vero, is how it stoodafter round four of this season.
