Lance Franklin will not be risked for the opening round of the season
Sydney spearhead Lance Franklin will not be risked in Round 1. When can the Swans fans expect to see him? Get the latest on how the superstar is tracking.
Sydney spearhead Lance Franklin will not be risked in Round 1 but the Swans haven’t ruled out a Round 2 Friday night home return against Essendon at the SCG.
The Swans are determined to get Franklin in the type of shape that will allow him to train with his teammates all season as he recovers from early January knee surgery.
He has been back running for some time and has even completed some skills sessions but isn’t yet in regular full training.
Sydney kicks off its season next week against Adelaide on Saturday 21 March before playing the following Friday against the Dons.
Franklin was in awesome shape in the pre-Christmas training block, rag-dolling defenders and in prime condition before needing a knee scrape.
But the club is determined not to rush him back without a solid training regimen under his belt.
Sydney captain Josh Kennedy told the Herald Sun Franklin was making strong progress.
“He is probably unlikely Round 1. They will be pretty cautious with him and make sure he is absolutely strong,” he said.
“He is certainly fit and the continuity of having him in training as much as games is as important for the team as a whole.
“Our team looks very different when he is in the side and if he’s not training it makes it pretty hard on game day. Having said that he has kept himself absolutely fit. It won’t take him long and it won’t take us long to integrate him back into the team.”
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Swans chief executive Tom Harley said the club would make a decision that would give Franklin the best chance to thrive after managing injuries in recent seasons.
“Lance had up until Christmas a full pre-season which we all got excited about,” he said.
“They are the deposits in the bank and he’s building up his running and starting to get into skills.
“He will play when he is right go and as far as how you make the decision, you put in all of those things.
“How much work has he done to get there, how is he going to go from that moment on.
“You have to weigh that all up and I am sure the right decision will be made.”
The Swans will likely tackle Adelaide with Isaac Heeney playing closer to goal and Tom McCartin, Nick Blakey, Tom Papley and Will Hayward as attacking targets.
Originally published as Lance Franklin will not be risked for the opening round of the season