Swans sweat on results of Lance Franklin’s calf injury
Oliver Caffrey |
The legendary AFL career of Lance Franklin hangs in the balance after the Sydney superstar suffered calf tightness with only a month remaining in what will likely be his final season.
Franklin was subbed out midway through the second quarter of the Swans’ thrilling two-point defeat of Essendon on Saturday night.
The 36-year-old cut a dejected figure sitting on the bench and was walking with a noticeable limp when he joined his teammates at the three-quarter-time huddle.
Sydney insisted Franklin had merely suffered tightness and will give an update on his fitness on Sunday.
“He’s obviously got a tight calf, it was obviously tight enough to sub him out,” Swans coach John Longmire said.
“He’s alright. I just had a chat with him and he’s disappointed he’s got a sore calf.
“‘Wait and see mate’, that’s what he said, ‘wait and see’.
“He’s been around a long time and he knows there’s no point talking too much about it now, instead we’ll wait until we’ve all got the facts in front of us and we’ll deal with it then.”
Sydney’s third-straight win keeps them in the hunt for finals, only a month after their top-eight hopes looked over at 6-1-9. They could finish the round as high as 10th.
If the Swans can qualify for the finals, it boosts Franklin’s chances of extending his iconic career beyond 354 games if his injury is more serious than initially feared.
The eight-time All-Australian has kicked just 19 goals – his lowest tally during his 19-season career – in 13 games this year.
It is widely expected Franklin will retire at season’s end, but the 36-year-old has reportedly been contemplating playing on next year.
Franklin has kicked 1066 goals in his career – the fourth most in VFL/AFL history – and is a lock to be inducted as a legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame after he retires.
He has missed five matches this season due to knee issues and a suspension.
Franklin might not have been the only casualty out of the Swans’ heart-stopping triumph with co-captain Dane Rampe staying on the bench for most of the final quarter, also due to calf tightness.
Without their most experienced defender, Sydney were forced to hang on grimly as Essendon tried to run down a 37-point deficit.
“You’ve got to make do sometimes, those things will happen,” Longmire said.
“There’ll be challenges thrown at you as a team and you’ve got to be able to get it done.”
Sydney face crosstown rivals GWS, who are on a club-record seven-game win streak, next Saturday night at Giants Stadium in a season-shaping match.
AAP
