AFL 2023: All the news, fallout from Essendon vs Sydney Swans

A former Sydney Swans assistant coach believes Lance Franklin will hang up the boots after the superstar’s latest injury blow.

Lance Franklin. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty

Sydney expects Lance Franklin to miss multiple weeks recovering from a calf injury as his former Swans assistant Steve Johnson said he was certain the 36-year-old would retire this season.

Franklin might need every day of the AFL’s expanded 24-round season to return for a farewell game as the Swans sweat on his fresh calf injury.

Franklin and fellow star defender Dane Rampe both picked up calf injuries in the victory against Essendon and will be unavailable against GWS in next week’s clash.

Sydney’s victory put it within a game of the top eight after a horror start to the season with a 3-6 win-loss record.

Franklin had scans in Sydney on Sunday afternoon after the club’s Melbourne family day in the morning.

He will consult with the club’s medical experts on Monday before the club releases an update.

But given he was clearly compromised it would surprise if he was able to return in the short-term future.

Lance Franklin sits on the bench after being subbed off. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The league’s installation of the Gather Round in round 5 means Franklin now has an extra week to prove his fitness.

But the calf injury is another reminder to Franklin that his playing days are numbered despite his late rethink about continuing on in 2024.

Johnson told Triple M Franklin’s decision to buy an $8.5 million house on the Gold Coast showed he would not play on in 2024.

“There is some chance we won’t see him again because I don’t think he will be playing on next year. He has moved out of his house in Sydney, he has bought a nice pad up on the Gold Coast which is where he and Jesinta will finish up and live post football.

They are half way out of Sydney already, probably full well knowing this will be his last season. Hopefully with this calf issue we can get him back for a farewell game.”

BOMBERS’ FINALS HOPES HANGING BY THREAD

- Glenn McFarlane

Goalkicking great Buddy Franklin’s immediate future is on hold as he awaits scans for calf tightness as a fast-finishing Essendon suffered a heartbreaking two-point loss to Sydney in a Marvel Stadium classic.

The Swans led by as much as 37 points early in the third term before the Bombers stormed home with five of the six goals kicked in the final quarter before a 60m Tom Papley bomb lifted the visitors over the line.

It means Sydney has now leapfrogged Essendon on the ladder to keep its finals hopes alive, while the Bombers would need to win at least three of their last four games to have any chance of playing off in September, given their poor percentage.

Franklin was subbed out of the clash with calf tightness early in the second term, with scans to determine the severity of his issue.

While the Swans are hopeful the issue is not a serious one and that he can still play a meaningful role in the club’s run to September, Franklin was noticeably limping after the game and was in clear pain.

Sydney only has four guaranteed games in the home-and-away season, with the finals an outside chance. Given it is unclear if he will play on next season, Franklin will rival Sam Kerr in the coming days for the most talked about calf issue in the country.

Lance Franklin. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty

Coach John Longmire remains hopeful that Franklin’s season is not over and will not jump to any conclusions about the diagnosis until medical staff issue their final assessment.

“He’s obviously got a tight calf – it was tight enough to sub him out, so we’ll see what it looks like tomorrow,” Longmire said after the game.

“He’s all right, I just had a chat with him then, he’s disappointed he’s got a sore calf.

“Wait and see mate, he said, see what it looks like tomorrow.

“He’s been around for a long time and he knows there’s no point talking too much about it now.

“We’ll wait until we’ve got the facts in front of us.”

Sydney executive general manager of football Charlie Gardiner said at halftime Franklin was feeling “OK” but would have his calf assessed as soon as possible.

“He (Franklin) just came off feeling a bit tight in his calf,” Gardiner said on Channel 7.

“We don’t take any risks with him, so we decided to sub him out of the game. He’s OK, we will assess it across the next few days.”

This was believed to be Franklin’s final season, but as the Herald Sun reported this week he has told those close to him that he is open-minded about playing on for a 20th season next year if the Swans want him.

A decision on whether the 36-year-old plays on again in 2024 won’t be made until the end of the season, but this clash with the Bombers was being billed in some quarters as a possible last chance to see Franklin in Melbourne.

Bombers Zach Merrett and Nick Hind after the final siren. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Former Hawk great Dermott Brereton said after the match on Fox Footy that calf issues at the back end of a career can be a serious concern, while Geelong premiership player Cam Mooney said: “The fear (we all have) is that could be his last game hobbling off.”

Essendon trailed by as much as 37 points at the seven-minute-mark of the third term with the Swans seemingly having the game in their grasp.

But the Bombers conjured a comeback that saw them storm home in a frantic last term with a Sam Durham goal at the 20-minute mark bringing the Marvel Stadium crowd to life.

Essendon seemingly had all the run before Tom Papley slammed home the Swans’ first goal of the final term from 60m at the 23-minute-mark that gave them a bit of breathing space with just over three minutes left.

But the Bombers kept coming with a goal to Jy Menzie bringing the margin back to less than a goal with six seconds left on the clock. The Bombers won the centre clearance, but time ran out as the ball was deep in their attack.

Originally published as AFL 2023: All the news, fallout from Essendon vs Sydney Swans