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Sydney Swans coach John Longmire says he is “fascinated” by the hype that surrounded the fitness of superstar striker Lance Franklin in his later injury-plagued years.
Longmire told reporters today after Swans’ pre-season loss to GWS Giants that Franklin would not feature in Sydney’s first-round clash with the Brisbane Lions.
MORE AFL NEWS: Toby Greene stuns the grown-ups with an ‘unreal’ goal
Soft tissue injuries limited the big goal of 944 goals to 19 games in 2018, 10 in 2019 and zero in 2020.
And while the Swans had hoped a long-term core-building program would have Franklin in heat for the 2021 season, four-time medalist Coleman received another crushing blow when he strained his calf in training in January. .
When asked if Franklin would be ready for the Sydney season opener on March 20, Longmire said the soccer world’s obsession with Swan’s $ 10million fitness had him. bewildered.
“Lance won’t play the first round. He will play when he’s ready to play. Hopefully if he continues as he does it will be soon enough, but it won’t be the first round,” Longmire said after the 18. , 6 year old Sydney (114) at 12.14 (86) loss.
“Everyone is taken at this time of year about it. Fascinates me. It’s a game. It’s an important game, but it’s not the only game of the year.”
“If it’s the second round, the third round, when it is, he will come and play.
“I hope everyone understands that we have to prove him right for the whole season. And that means he might not play every game this season. That’s okay too. We’re just working on it.”
Toby’s brilliant goal
Franklin is in the penultimate year of his unprecedented nine-year, $ 10 million contract, which he landed after nine years with Hawthorn.
His absence for the first round bolstered the starting hopes of much-vaunted key forward Logan McDonald, who Sydney selected with the four pick in the 2020 National Draft.
The West Australian impressed in his first official match in red and white, hitting a soaring goal with his first contact and knocking down two magnificent peloton marks.
Six members of the current Sydney squad made their debut in the first round of their first AFL season: Harry Cunningham, Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley, Callum Mills, Oliver Florent and Nick Blakey.
Bruhn makes early statement for GWS
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