Speaking to Seven Network’s Talking Footy on Monday night, Sydney Swans coach John Longmire ruled out his injured star pair, ahead of the Swans return to the SCG in round seven.
Lance Franklin has been battling on-going heel soreness, first suffered against the Eagles in round one.
Franklin had been struggling for the past month with the injury, and after pulling up sore after the Crows game in round 5, the Swans opted to let him heal.
“They’re both not going to be playing this week,” Longmire said.
“This afternoon the medical guys ruled them both out so they're not playing this week.
Longmire is wary of putting too much strain on the forward’s body and foreshadowed a move to rest him again when he spoke on Melbourne radio earlier 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,” Longmire told SEN Radio.
“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.”
Dan Hannebery pulled up sore during the game against Adelaide, and while he played out the match, he was ruled out of the Geelong game early last week with a minor groin tear.
Hannebery battled groin issues last season, and while the club says that they are not related to his latest injury, it is another frustration for the midfielder who has battled on-going injuries since the clash with Easton Wood in the 2016 AFL Premiership decider.
“Hannebery has had a slight tear in his groin. He missed last week, will miss this week and we'll see how he is this time next week.”
The Swans were as good as forced to go small against the Cats, with utility Dean Towers omitted on Thursday with an eye injury.
Robbie Fox replaced Towers, while Ronke came in for Franklin, kicking two goals each in the Swans’ thrilling come-from-behind 17-point win against the Cats.
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