The legendary AFL profession of Lance Franklin hangs within the steadiness after the Sydney celebrity suffered calf tightness with solely a month remaining in what’s going to probably be his ultimate season.
Franklin was subbed out halfway by means of the second quarter of the Swans’ thrilling two-point defeat of Essendon on Saturday evening.
The 36-year-old minimize a dejected determine sitting on the bench and was strolling with a noticeable limp when he joined his teammates on the three-quarter-time huddle.
Sydney insisted Franklin had merely suffered tightness and can give an replace on his health on Sunday.
“He’s obviously got a tight calf, it was obviously tight enough to sub him out,” Swans coach John Longmire stated.
“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 is what he stated, ‘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 retains them within the hunt for finals, solely a month after their top-eight hopes appeared over at 6-1-9. They may end the spherical as excessive as tenth.
If the Swans can qualify for the finals, it boosts Franklin’s probabilities of extending his iconic profession past 354 video games if his damage is extra critical than initially feared.
The eight-time All-Australian has kicked simply 19 targets – his lowest tally throughout his 19-season profession – in 13 video games this yr.
It is extensively anticipated Franklin will retire at season’s finish, however the 36-year-old has reportedly been considering taking part in on subsequent yr.
Franklin has kicked 1066 targets in his profession – the fourth most in VFL/AFL historical past – and is a lock to be inducted as a legend within the Australian Football Hall of Fame after he retires.
He has missed 5 matches this season attributable to knee points and a suspension.
Franklin may not have been the one casualty out of the Swans’ heart-stopping triumph with co-captain Dane Rampe staying on the bench for a lot of the ultimate quarter, additionally attributable to calf tightness.
Without their most skilled defender, Sydney had been compelled to hold on grimly as Essendon tried to run down a 37-point deficit.
“You’ve got to make do sometimes, those things will happen,” Longmire stated.
“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’re on a club-record seven-game win streak, subsequent Saturday evening at Giants Stadium in a season-shaping match.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
