WHEN the best key forward in the competition offers you his hand in salutation and says “well done”, there can be no greater compliment.

So it was at Marvel Stadium early Saturday evening when Sydney’s Lance Franklin exchanged post-match pleasantries with Liam Jones.

For Jones, who this week completes his 50th senior appearance for the club (the 325th Carlton player to do so), the poignancy of that moment was truly palpable.

“To go out there and play alongside blokes like ‘Simmo’ (Kade Simpson) and face up to players like ‘Buddy’ Franklin is a dream come true really,” Jones said, who truly prevailed in the fascinating personal duel.

‘Buddy is a great player and I still idolise when I watch him play.”

Ed Curnow, in another interview, alluded to Jones’ attention to detail in preparing for his latest one-on-one with ‘Buddy’ – remembering of course that Franklin had booted a lazy 10 when the pair crossed paths on the SCG in the final round of 2017.

For Jones, dotting the Is and crossing the Ts began with video reviews of the Swans’ opening two contests with the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide. As he said: “I made sure I had a look at the blokes who played on him (Franklin) – Easton Wood in Round 1 and Daniel Talia the following week”.

A “go-to” person was the former Hawthorn, St Kilda and Fremantle key defender Zac Dawson, the recently-appointed manager of Carlton’s Next Generation Academy program.

“Zac’s been a great help. He’s given me key points each week, has watched vision with me and helped me preview the guys I might be playing on,” Jones revealed.

“Dale Amos (assistant coach) also gave me clear vision of how I could nullify him (Franklin).

“I knew I had to do it for four quarters, be diligent and not be distracted watching the ball.”

In recounting recent history with Franklin, Jones also conceded that he had erred in totally backing his own read on the ball by playing in front.

As he said: “He (Franklin) is so quick to get out the back that I realised if I could take his back, force him up and then be good in reacting, he would then know I was close and that would put some doubt in his mind”.

Jones also offered fascinating insight into the toll taken in going one-on-one with Franklin.

“In terms of mental exhaustion I [was] absolutely zapped [post-match],” he said. “That’s a two-hour game without switching off.

“After all, he is such an explosive player. He can go from walking, doing nothing, to absolutely exploding when he thinks he’s going to get the ball.”