Sydney coach John Longmire concedes Lance Franklin has performed greater than deliberate to this point this season however says the celebrity ahead is primed for his 350th recreation on Thursday night time.
The Swans prolonged Franklin’s coaching program throughout final week’s bye to assist put together the veteran for his milestone recreation after he managed solely three targets in 4 video games throughout a month affected by harm and sickness.
Longmire advised RSN’s Breakfast with Harf program the 36-year-old was a sure starter in opposition to St Kilda on the SCG on Thursday, however the Swans will once more be with out key defender Tom McCartin, who continues to expertise concussion signs following a head knock in spherical 4 in opposition to Port Adelaide.
A raft of accidents to key place gamers had made it troublesome for the Swans to stay to their early season workload plans for Franklin, Longmire mentioned.
“I think the reality is (Franklin) probably would have been managed in a few games this year if we’d had the opportunity, we just didn’t have any key position players available,” he mentioned.
“That was the plan at the start of the year – he’s been probably forced to play a few more games than what we would’ve liked, particularly off six-day breaks.
“We lengthened the training program last week to get him going again, and hopefully he trains well this week.”
Longmire praised Franklin’s humble nature and affect on his youthful teammates and mentioned he was stunned by the quantity of different soccer the legendary goalkicker watched over the typical weekend.
“What’s amazing about him is that he watches so much footy … he loves watching footy, which in this day and age, you don’t often see with players coming through,” he mentioned.
“He’ll shoot a text at me halfway through an under-18 game for instance … he can sniff talent out a mile away, put it that way … especially ones who can kick inside 50 really well.”
Longmire mentioned the Swans had not made any main adjustments to cope with the dearth of tall targets, with Sam Reid and Joel Amartey (hamstring accidents) and Logan McDonald (ankle) sidelined for prolonged intervals.
“We’ve made little tweaks here and there, but you have to (take) what the game gives you a little bit because obviously most teams are pretty strong defensively,” he mentioned.
“We don’t have Sam Reid available, which gives you that outlet kick for instance.”
Longmire mentioned Tom McCartin was “doing more in the training sense” however positively wouldn’t determine in opposition to the Saints, with Lewis Melican and Aaron Francis set to once more occupy the important thing defensive posts.
Swans co-captain Dane Rampe was an opportunity to return in opposition to St Kilda however wouldn’t obtain a “final tick” from membership medical employees till later within the week, Longmire mentioned.
He mentioned the absence of Callum Mills and Luke Parker on account of harm and suspension would trigger a major shuffle for the Swans’ on-ball division.
“We’ll have Mills and Parker out this week, so we’re just trying to work through what that looks like,” he mentioned.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
