Hawthorn big gun Lance Franklin has given Leon Cameron's AFL coaching credentials a big tick, crediting the favourite for the vacant Western Bulldogs role for making him more of a team player.

Forwards coach at Hawthorn, Cameron is the frontrunner to fill the head position at the Bulldogs, who axed Rodney Eade last week.

Franklin, the Coleman Medal leader, has kicked 66 goals, eight ahead of Richmond's Jack Riewoldt and Collingwood's Travis Cloke.

The 24-year-old is also ranked fourth at his club for goal assists, with 15.

He said Cameron, who joined the club this year after seven years as a Bulldogs assistant, had been key to developing that side of his game this season.

"It's been three years since the 2008 grand final, and I think I've improved a little bit since then," said Franklin.

"I think every year I've taken a step forward in the way that I play and Leon Cameron has been a big part of that too.

"He's come to the club and he's been great with my progress as a player, and taught me a lot along the way.

"He's taught me to be a lot more of a team player; that's been my main focus this year.

"I'm not saying I wasn't, but that's something that he's brought to my game this year, and I've really enjoyed having him here."

After a hard-fought 12-point win over a fast-finishing Carlton on Friday night, Franklin said he was fit and ready for another finals campaign.

"I'm physically good," he said.

"I've missed two games this year, one through suspension and an injury, so those two games I missed has probably freshened me up a little bit.

"My body is holding up well at this time of the year which is good, touch wood," he said.

Franklin said he didn't want to be rested during the remaining two games before the finals, with the third-placed Hawks to next host the Western Bulldogs on Saturday at the MCG.

"I don't want to be rested and neither do many of our players.

"It just goes back to the coaching staff and what they want to do.

"But I love playing footy and I want to be out there every week so I definitely don't want to be rested."

Franklin felt his team would take a lot from the narrow win over the Blues.

"I think we played some pretty good footy in that first half and they ran over us in the second half and we were lucky to get away with the four points.

"It's a good test for us. Good teams are always going to come back and they did.

"We've got to play four quarters of football otherwise we'll get beaten."

Meanwhile, any decision to appoint Cameron as Western Bulldogs coach will be carried out by a five-man selection committee announced on Monday.

Former Bulldogs star Chris Grant and ex-Geelong premiership skipper Tom Harley will join Dogs chief executive Simon Garlick, football manager James Fantasia and board member Geoff Walsh to sift through the candidates.

They will identify and recommend a preferred candidate who will then present to the Bulldogs board.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP