Lance Franklin and the Sydney Swans sweat it out in Coffs Harbour heat
LANCE Franklin may be the AFL’s $10 million dollar man but there was no special treatment for him in sweltering conditions at Coffs Harbour.
Sydney
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Lance Franklin may be the AFL’s $10 million dollar man but there was no special treatment for him in sweltering conditions at Coffs Harbour.
Buddy and the Swans were pushed to their limits in the mid-30C temperatures and sapping 80 per cent humidity.
Despite off-season surgery on both his knees and one ankle he was one of the standouts in the two-hour session.
“He has really looked after himself over the summer,” Swans coach John Longmire said.
“Having a couple of operations means he can’t run for a period of time. He had a bone spur taken out of his ankle and the knee stuff is fine. He worked hard and got himself in really good condition.”
The Coleman Medallist will miss Saturday’s AFLX tournament at Allianz Stadium but Longmire will look at playing him in next Friday night’s practice match against GWS at Henson Park in Marrickville.
“We are working out what he might do next week against GWS in a practice game,” Longmire said.
“There is a chance that he, Papley, Naismith and a number of players (not playing AFLX will play at Henson Park). They will train on Saturday, it’s an important session for those boys, because they need a big session. If they get through that we will look at them to play on Friday.”
While Franklin is in great shape there are a number of senior players including Dan Hannebery and Heath Grundy who have been battling injury.
Grundy was on light duties as he recovers from a calf injury while Hannebery stepped up his running as he continues his rehab from a similar problem.
“Hanners isn’t doing much at the moment and Grundy will up the program more next week,” Longmire said.
“He ran really hard on Monday and has pulled up well so we’re hoping he’s not far from getting back to training.”
After managing injuries and workloads Skipper Josh Kennedy and Gary Rohan where back in full training at Coffs along with young guns Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley, Aliir Aliir and Sam Naismith.
Longmire will be in charge of the Swans team in Saturday’s experimental AFLX which has come under fire for a number of reasons including lack of relevance but the Swans coach thinks it’s worth a go.
“I’m OK with AFLX,” Longmire said.
“It has a role to play particularly in the Northern markets where their aren’t as many ovals and we need to be able to trial different games that appeal to kids at facilities which are available.