AFL 2021: Tom Papley says Lance Franklin could still play in Round 1

Tom Papley has opened up on the trade saga which almost saw him become a Blue, feeling more at home in Sydney and Lance Franklin’s bid for a Round 1 return.

AFL SuperCoach + Kayo launch campaign with Swans player Tom Papley. Picture: Jeremy Piper

After six years in the Harbour City, Swans star Tom Papley finally feels at home in Sydney.

It’s a feeling that has been a long time coming for the small forward, who was one of Sydney’s best in season 2021.

Two years ago Papley requested a release from his long-term deal, which runs until the end of season 2023, to be closer to his father and support him through mental health issues.

But the Swans denied the request.

Once news that the boy from Bunyip wanted to return home to Victoria hit the headlines, the “noise” threatened to be all too much for Papley.

“It is a lot different to Bunyip but Sydney feels a like home,” Papley said.

Swans player Tom Papley at Kayo’s 2021 Sport Lives Here launch. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“There were some family reasons why I wanted to go back home but that is done now and I’ve moved on. I’ve not focused on that at all. I want to focus on my footy and that’s the reason why I have played well, actually.

“There was none of that outside noise, like from the media.

“There a bit of noise around it but I wanted to concentrate on my footy and let that do the talking. It’s done now.”

Papley committed his future to the Swans late last year after speculation a number of Victorian clubs had been vying for his signature.

The certainty has been a driving force behind Papley’s form.

While the Swans struggled through another disappointing season, Papley finished as the club’s leading goal kicker for the second year in a row. He booted 26 goals in 17 games last year.

“It wasn’t great because as a team we didn’t go that well but I feel like it was a good season personally and I really want to keep building on that, try and take some confidence out of it and keeping improving my game,” Papley said at Kayo’s 2021 Sport Lives Here launch.

Tom Papley of the swans celebrates his goal in the first quarter against Geelong. Pic: Michael Klein

“We had a few outs so I guess there was a bit more emphasis on me and the ball was going to me a bit more I think with every year I‘m more experienced and that helps.”

The Swans’ season was punctuated with injuries to key players like Isaac Heeney, George Hewett and Josh Kennedy.

Veteran key forward Lance Franklin didn’t even make it on the field in season 2020. Franklin was forced out through a knee and then a hamstring injury.

But Papley revealed Franklin is edging closer to a round one return against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on March 20.

“He’s going all right. It was really only a little tiny setback, which is thankful. He’ll be pushing for round one still we think, and he’ll just keep going on with his rehab. Hopefully we’ll see him out there in round one,” Papley said.

The return of Franklin is unlikely to force a change in the way coach John Longmire’s plans to use Papley in season 2021.

“We probably keep playing the same way. It’s working really well with the forward line and connections we have got. I think this year will be a bit easier for us to get the ball and with movement,” Papley said.

“I think we can take another step forward this year again in the forward line this year.”

The resignation of Collingwood boss Eddie McGuire might be one of the biggest stories in the AFL but Papley revealed the news hardly reverberated among his Sydney teammates.

The Swans are no stranger to the controversy surrounding issues of racism, which have been highlighted through the experiences of former player Adam Goodes.

The documentary ‘The Final Quarter’ exposed the extent of racism Goodes faced during his playing career.

“We didn’t speak about it [McGuire’s resignation] at all to be honest. We had the situation with Adam Goodes but as a club we have always been against racism,” Papley said.