Champion ahead Lance Franklin might return from his knee damage simply in time to assist Sydney get better from their goal-kicking nightmare.
Coach John Longmire has put the Swans’ inaccurate exhibiting in opposition to Geelong final weekend right down to a “bad day at the office” relatively than an endemic concern that would scupper his Thirteenth-placed aspect’s finals hopes.
Last yr’s runners-up had a golden alternative to shut in on the highest eight and silence talks of a hoodoo in opposition to Geelong after they hosted the reigning premiers on Friday.
Instead, the Swans blew their possibilities in entrance of objective, managing solely six main scores from their half-century of inside-50s and ending with 18 behinds in a 54-all draw.
Isaac Heeney and Robbie Fox had late possibilities to shut the sport out for Sydney, with Cats coach Chris Scott admitting Geelong might think about themselves fortunate to have escaped with two factors.
Longmire says he’ll minimize his younger aspect some slack, insisting even one of the best have off days.
“It was a bad day at the office,” he mentioned.
“If you look at Melbourne, for instance, on the weekend they had 73 inside-50s and they got beaten and kicked 5.15. It does happen.
“You’d relatively it not occur and we’ll work to try to get it higher. But we’ll additionally steadiness it out … among the soccer we performed was excellent, very sturdy footy.
“We did a hell of a lot right in that game.”
The prolific Franklin has been sidelined since spherical 13, with the Swans hoping to make a name by Tuesday on whether or not he can return for Thursday night time’s conflict in opposition to Richmond on the MCG.
He had been an opportunity to characteristic in opposition to the Cats however Longmire opted to not threat the 36-year-old because the Swans proceed their cautious strategy to Franklin’s health.
“It’s that fine line that if you do too much in training with him, it might make him sore for the game a couple of days later. We didn’t want to be in that position,” he mentioned.
“Last week was about, ‘We’ll do enough that he needs to do to feel good, hopefully he pulls up OK’.
“That provides him one of the best probability to coach in the present day and be obtainable for choice this week, hopefully.”
Defender Tom McCartin could make his return from a long concussion lay-off after two weeks in the VFL.
“We’ll make a name in all probability tomorrow,” Longmire mentioned on Monday.
“If they each get via coaching, for the primary time in a very long time we’ll have some choice strain.”
A win over the Tigers might transfer the Swans to ninth on the ladder – larger than they’ve been since spherical 5.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
