Sydney coach John Longmire has informed followers they should be affected person with Lance Franklin, who he says will take a while to construct into the AFL season.
Franklin struggled for impression when he got here on within the second half of the Swans’ 45-point loss to Brisbane of their first apply match on Friday, and Longmire mentioned it could be a couple of weeks earlier than the 36-year-old reached “full power” after he was managed cautiously by means of the pre-season.
“It wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to say we don’t expect him to play every week, every minute of the game … at 36, it can be a real challenge to do that,” Longmire informed RSN’s Breakfast with Harf program.
“He’s had a bit of a restricted pre-season – he only played a half last week.
“He hasn’t been going at full power through the pre-season, so the plan is to build him up again this week, and it will take a few weeks for him to hit his stride.”
Longmire mentioned the Swans facet was persevering with to evolve within the wake of its humiliating 81-point defeat to Geelong within the grand remaining, however the loss was no motive to swing the axe on established gamers, citing the Cats’ personal rebound from their preliminary remaining capitulation in 2021.
“Those things unfortunately happen, we dealt with it at the end of last year … we didn’t live up to the test on grand final day against the most mature team that has played in the competition in Geelong,” Longmire mentioned.
“They were at the other end of the spectrum – they certainly played very well and they deserved it – they’re a great team, and they got beaten the year before by 80-odd points in a prelim final.”
Young halfback Braeden Campbell, who was the medi-sub within the grand remaining, and 209cm rugby union convert Lachlan McAndrew had been named as two gamers Longmire might see breaking into the senior facet within the early phases of the season.
“I’d like to see the continued development of Braeden Campbell. We think that he’s played a bit of footy for us now but we’ve seen bits and pieces of him, and we’re really looking forward to him coming on,” Longmire mentioned.
“We expect with Tom Hickey at the moment having a calf injury that (McAndrew) will certainly be looking at some game time at some point early in the season, and that will be great for Swans fans to see as well.”
McAndrew, who led the Swans’ ruck division in opposition to the Lions, was benefiting significantly from working with a fellow former rookie-listed participant in Dean Cox, Longmire mentioned.
“To have (Cox) available for our young rucks is fantastic for them – Lachie is learning a lot off him at the moment,” he mentioned.
Source: www.news.com.au
