Sydney Swans coach John Longmire, speaking to SEN this afternoon, has hinted that superstar forward Lance Franklin may miss another week with the Swans eager to ensure that Franklin fully recovers from his foot injury.
The 31-year-old missed the Swans come-from-behind win against the Cats on Saturday afternoon in round six with a bruised heel, first suffered against the Eagles in round one.
Franklin – along with midfielder Dan Hannebery – was ruled out of the match early last week, with the Swans as good as forced to go small against the Cats.
It worked, with the Swans recording their third-straight win at GMHBA Stadium, becoming the only team since West Coast in round 10, 2006, to win against the Cats at Kardinia Park after trailing at half-time.
Franklin had been struggling with the injury over the past month, spending more time inside forward fifty than usual.
Speaking to Sydney Swans Media last week, John Longmire said that the injury affected his training load and ability to move up the ground.
“Lance won't play on Saturday. He hasn’t been able to do any significant training since the Round 1 game against West Coast,” Longmire said.
Swans Head of Football Tom Harley, speaking to HCF Injury Update last week, said that the club had to play it week-by-week with his recovery.
“But he pulled up really sore after the game on the weekend and unfortunately won't be able to play this week,” Harley said.
A flare-up after the Crows match forced him to sit out round six, with the club refusing to set a return date for the forward.
“I know the million-dollar question is the prognosis on that, but we really can't take any other approach than week-by-week, and we'll make sure that we give Lance every chance to get back as soon as possible, and I'm sure he'll give himself every chance as well”, Harley said.
Despite a promising prognosis, the Swans won’t know until later in the week if he’ll be available for the North Melbourne clash at the SCG
“(Franklin) was walking around fine on Friday but it is something we're mindful of,” Longmire told SEN radio on Monday.
“We don't want to get in the cycle of playing him every week and not being able to train him, which was the cycle we were in from round one.
“So, we're conscious of that, we're conscious of making sure it doesn't put pressure on other parts of his body and we'd like him obviously to get right.”
Midfielder Dan Hannebery missed the match with a groin injury and appears unlikely to face the Kangaroos this weekend.
“If he was to miss this week, you wouldn't be completely surprised,” Longmire said.
“He hasn't been ruled out yet either so we'll let that unfold as the days progress.”
| Lewis Melican | Hamstring | Test |
| Dan Hannebery | Groin | Test |
| Lance Franklin | Bruised heel | Test |
| Dean Towers | Eye | Test |
| Toby Pink (R) | Ankle | 2-3 Weeks |
| Jordan Dawson | Quad | 4 Weeks |
| James Bell R | Hamstring | 4 Weeks |
| Jordan Foote | Toe | 4 Weeks |
| Alex Johnson (R) | Groin | 4 Weeks |
| Sam Reid | Quad | 7-9 Weeks |
| Sam Naismith | Knee | Season |
| Kurt Tippett | Retired |
Sydney Swans Injury Update - AFL Injury List
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