Sydney Swans coach John Longmire can't say when Lance Franklin will be fit to return – but as soon as he is, he will, even if that means playing his 300th game interstate.
Franklin has been stranded on 299 AFL games since injuring his hamstring against Hawthorn in round 14 and hasn't been able to train since.
It was originally thought that he might be ready for Sunday's clash with Geelong at the SCG, but Longmire has ruled him out and said he was also at long odds to feature in their following clash against Greater Western Sydney at Giants Stadium.
"He's been able to run, but is not into our training sessions yet and that's the most important part," Longmire said. "We need him out there training with us to make him resilient enough to be able to not get injured.
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"That's what our plan is at the moment, hopefully he'll have a good running week this week and get into some training next week."
The Swans only have one home game left after this weekend – against St Kilda in the final round. That looms as a potential blockbuster occasion if veterans Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack choose to retire and are able to play a farewell game, and it could be even bigger if Franklin is held back until then for his 300th.
Lance Franklin is no closer to making a return for the Sydney Swans because of a troublesome hamstring injury.Credit:AAP
While club administrators would no doubt like to reserve Franklin's milestone match for a home game, Longmire insisted the timing of it would not be a consideration.
"When he's available to play and we know he's right and our medical conditioning staff declare him ready to go, he'll play, no matter where that is. Our main thoughts are just to get him right," he said.
With Sydney out of finals contention, Longmire has also drawn a line through the season of ruckman Callum Sinclair, who was due to have surgery on his dislocated shoulder on Monday. In better neRead More – Source
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire can't say when Lance Franklin will be fit to return – but as soon as he is, he will, even if that means playing his 300th game interstate.
Franklin has been stranded on 299 AFL games since injuring his hamstring against Hawthorn in round 14 and hasn't been able to train since.
It was originally thought that he might be ready for Sunday's clash with Geelong at the SCG, but Longmire has ruled him out and said he was also at long odds to feature in their following clash against Greater Western Sydney at Giants Stadium.
"He's been able to run, but is not into our training sessions yet and that's the most important part," Longmire said. "We need him out there training with us to make him resilient enough to be able to not get injured.
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"That's what our plan is at the moment, hopefully he'll have a good running week this week and get into some training next week."
The Swans only have one home game left after this weekend – against St Kilda in the final round. That looms as a potential blockbuster occasion if veterans Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack choose to retire and are able to play a farewell game, and it could be even bigger if Franklin is held back until then for his 300th.
Lance Franklin is no closer to making a return for the Sydney Swans because of a troublesome hamstring injury.Credit:AAP
While club administrators would no doubt like to reserve Franklin's milestone match for a home game, Longmire insisted the timing of it would not be a consideration.
"When he's available to play and we know he's right and our medical conditioning staff declare him ready to go, he'll play, no matter where that is. Our main thoughts are just to get him right," he said.
With Sydney out of finals contention, Longmire has also drawn a line through the season of ruckman Callum Sinclair, who was due to have surgery on his dislocated shoulder on Monday. In better neRead More – Source
