Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin will finish his career as one of the greatest forwards in AFL history, however SEN's Time On host, Sam McClure raised the question of whether Buddy is underrated amongst AFL fans and the media.

Love him or hate him, Buddy has solidified his scoring ability and forward dominance throughout his career, kicking a total of 860 goals during his AFL tenure, which places him at 10th on the all-time list.

He hasn't shown signs of slowing down just yet, tallying 73 goals without missing a single game last season for the Swans and is also on pace to receive his eighth All-Australian selection if he continues his recent form.

McClure discussed Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson's prominent top 50 players list today on SEN's Time On, questioning Robinson's decision to place Franklin at number five on the list, behind the likes of Alex Rance and Nat Fyfe.

“I want to stress here this is in no way, shape or form any sort of criticism of Mark Robinson,” McClure said on Time On.

“He has, in my opinion, the hardest job in footy before the season in ranking his top 50."

“Is Lance Franklin the most underrated superstar that modern footy has ever seen?"

According to McClure, the two-time premiership player hasn't received the recognition he deserves amongst the media and the AFL fanbase.

“He is number five in Robbo’s top 50, and as I said this is not about that, this is about how we, as a footy industry view him," McClure said.

McClure mentions that this current era of AFL is "not kind to the forward" and perhaps that is true in today's midfield-heavy landscape, because very few have achieved what Buddy has throughout his career.

The media's love-affair with the midfield position won't be going anywhere soon with electric players such as Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin and Marcus Bontempelli continuing to dominate the competition in new ways.

“If he stays fit this year, he is going to be in the 290’s for games played and the 900’s for goals, and he is only 31," McClure added. 

“I do not think it is too big of a call to say when we look back on Lance Franklin’s career, we are going to be talking about him in the Leigh Matthews and Wayne Carey mould.”

Franklin will begin his 2018 campaign with the Sydney Swans on Sunday against the West Coast Eagles at Patersons Stadium in Perth.