And Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge admits it might go pear-shaped.

Beveridge has made no secret of his admiration for the Swans forward, calling him the best player in the competition.

LAST GAME?: CONCUSSION MAY END PICKEN’S CAREER

BUDDY IMPRESSIVE: FRANKLIN IN LEAGUE OF HIS OWN

Equally, he’s got plenty of time for Naughton — the club’s first-round pick from last year’s draft — and he can’t wait to see how the 18-year-old stacks up.

“At different times he’s known why Lance is the best player in the comp,” Beveridge said.

“He’s obviously a driven young player. He wants to perform at the highest level straight away.

“He’ll be on Lance at different times.

“I think (Franklin) gets better every year and to not turn your mind to how to combat that would be senseless.

“We’ll go in with a plan there and at different times Aaron will be near him.”

Franklin booted 3.5 when the Swans comfortably accounted for the Bulldogs by 46 points at the SCG last year.

But the expectations on the Bulldogs for the visit of the premiership favourites have been transformed by last week’s surprise win over Essendon.

Beveridge, however, was surprised to learn that his side was ranked last in the competition for both tackling and contested possessions.

But, after three rounds, he’s not overly concerned.

“What we’d like to do is have the ball in our hands more than having to tackle ... it’s a second priority the tackling,” he said.

“I’m not necessarily a quantitative gent. I’m always looking at the quantitative side of things.

“We’ll aim to improve in (contested football) when it’s our turn.”

Beveridge again laid bare Liam Picken’s concussion woes.

Picken is yet to return to full training six weeks after a head clash with teammate Josh Dunkley in pre-season, leaving the 31-year-old’s career in the balance.

“He may not play this year. He may not every play again,” Beveridge said on Friday morning.

The Bulldogs coach first raised the prospect of Picken not playing in 2018 last night in a radio interview.

While the Bulldogs are tabling the possibility that the hard-nosed Bulldog — who is contracted until 2019 — might not return to the sport, Beveridge said Picken wasn’t contemplating an end to his playing days.

“He’s not talking that way. He’s not talking either way,” he said.

“But I think it’s important we get it out there as a reality. There’s every chance that he may not.”

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