AFL Rising Star nominee Ben Ronke is profiting from sage advice from Lance Franklin, the injured superstar he has replaced in the Sydney team.
Forward Ronke kicked seven goals in just his third senior game, to help propel the Swans record an away win over Hawthorn at the MCG last Friday. Ronke has yet to play alongside Franklin, who has missed the Swans' past three games with a bruised heel and won't be fit for Saturday's home game against Fremantle.
Rocking rookie: Ben Ronke celebrates his sixth of seven goals for the Swans against the Hawks.
Photo: AAP
But the 20-year-old rookie list player Ronke has benefited from the knowledge Franklin has accumulated over 276 games.
"He's a great help, he's always offering advice and is one of the ones that says 'keep it simple', stick to what I know and don't change anything," he said. "The impact he's had, even though I haven't played with him yet has been good. "Yesterday (Monday) morning, I bumped into him and he said 'well done', it was good to get the support of a bloke like that, to get some respect off him."
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Coaches and other players have also offered advice to Ronke, whose guernsey No.25 has put him in close locker room proximity to some of Sydney's biggest names.
Mentor: Injured Lance Franklin is helping Ronke off the field.
Photo: AAP
"My locker is around Dane Rampe (No.24), Luke Parker (No.26) and Lance Franklin (No.23)," Ronke said "You try and soak up as much advice as you can off blokes like that, that are at the top of the game and have been around for a long time."
Ronke last Friday became the first VFL-AFL player to kick seven goals and lay 10 tackles. He also featured in Sydney's last quarter surge in their win over Geelong on his debut. But so far, Ronke's only been able to sing the club song at home after a reserves win.
He's hoping that will change after Saturday's game as the Swans strive to improve on a mediocre 1-3 home record this season.
"We haven't played the footy we've wanted to at home, but his week we've got another opportunity to really make teams fear coming to the SCG and that's what we want to get back to," Ronke said.
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