Sydney coach John Longmire doesn’t count on his younger tall forwards “to be Lance Franklin” because the Swans proceed their late finals bid with out the famous person.
Hayden McLean booted 4 targets and Joel Amartey kicked two because the Swans claimed one in all their most spectacular victories of the yr in opposition to GWS on Saturday to maintain their hopes of a high eight berth alive.
Longmire warned followers to not count on persistently sturdy performances from his younger key ahead trio, which additionally consists of former No. 4 choose Logan McDonald, however stated they’d proceed to enhance as extra alternatives loom in Franklin’s wake.
Plans to formally farewell Franklin in entrance of followers stay up within the air, with Longmire saying the Swans have been desirous to organise one thing in line with the four-time Coleman medallist’s needs.
“(We’re) not sure just yet, we’d love to have him back and thank him in front of all the fans but we’ll see how that goes,” Longmire stated.
“He had a big presence in our forward line and we were really to keen to have him play and nurture that next generation. Young key forwards take a little bit of time to grow … it has allowed that next generation of players to come through and to have a bit of confidence.
“They won’t all be consistent, and I don’t expect them to be Lance Franklin, but hopefully we have a system out there that they can keep working on.”
With McDonald held goalless by a robust GWS backline together with All-Australian contenders Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley, McLean stepped up with an equal career-high 4 targets.
Longmire praised his flexibility after he was influential within the earlier three consecutive wins because the lone ruckman in Tom Hickey’s absence.
“Hayden has played a couple of different roles for us. He’s played a fair bit of time as a forward but recent weeks we’ve put him in the ruck,” Longmire stated.
“Losing Sam Reid, we’ve been looking for that forward second ruck. That’s the role he’s played.
“His flexibility allows us to play him in a couple of different roles so hopefully he continues in good form. We’re really keen on Hayden and he works hard at his game.”
Longmire stated the Swans had needed to problem Braeden Campbell’s one-match ban for a late bump on Lachie Whitfield on Saturday, however they didn’t assume it was value interesting.
“We considered (a challenge) long and hard. We felt we would have had a case but given the chat around what is happening in the game we thought our chances weren’t that great,” he stated.
Longmire named Dylan Stephens, Corey Warner and Matt Roberts as potential replacements for the left-footed defender, who has additionally been pushing up onto the wing in a powerful month.
Source: www.news.com.au
