Buddy in hot water: Sydney star Lance Franklin set to be suspended after hit on Luke Ryan

Sydney superstar Lance Franklin’s elbow to the head of Docker Luke Ryan is likely to see him suspended. See the video of the incident and the looming charges.

Jon Ralph, Sam Landsberger and Greg Davis

16 min read

July 26, 2021 - 12:21PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Charlie Cameron in action against the Suns. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

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Lance Franklin can expect to be suspended for his elbow to the head of Fremantle’s Luke Ryan, despite a trio of fines handed out to players for similar acts earlier this season.

Franklin’s strike on Ryan was delivered with some force, and from a distance, in comparison to David Astbury and Joe Daniher’s close-range shrugs that struck opponents.

WATCH THE INCIDENT IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Astbury (on Lachie Plowman) and Daniher (on Dane Rampe) were both handed fines for strikes on opponents in Round 1 the AFL deemed were not strictly delivered with elbows to the head, but the upper arm or tricep.

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Lance Franklin elbows Luke Ryan — will he be suspended? Picture: Fox Footy

West Coast’s Luke Shuey was also fined for an elbow to the head of Callum Mills and was lucky not to be suspended.

But with Mills tackling Shuey, and his head down much lower than Shuey anticipated, the star Eagle was genuinely surprised to hit the Swan and immediately apologised.

That trio could consider themselves lucky not to be banned, but Franklin is certain to be suspended by the AFL.

It would add to a history of MRO charges that has seen him found guilty 16 times, fined a total of $13,750 and missed seven games through suspension.

Players who elbow their rivals behind them are generally judged to have committed a careless act, given they are not looking, and it is hard to prove they knew exactly where their opponent was.

But Franklin moved the ball from left hand to right hand, with Ryan hanging onto him, to clear his arm to dispense of the Dockers defender.

He then strikes Ryan with some force to the head.

Ryan remained on the field and was not concussed, but given the MRO has the capacity to elevate the force of the injury when a player uses an elbow, Michael Christian has options.

Fremantle players remonstrate with Franklin on Sunday. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

He could judge Franklin guilty of a low-impact, intentional strike which would see him suspended for a week.

Or, he could charge him with a careless, medium-impact strike given the capacity to cause serious injury, which would also see him suspended for one match.

Either charge would see Franklin suspended for the clash against Essendon on Saturday, stopping his push towards 1000 career goals for a week.

An intentional, medium-impact strike would see Franklin handed a two-week ban, but that is less likely given the trio of fines earlier this year.

Sydney would consider contesting the charge, but with Franklin having played 11 games in a row - either side of the Round 14 bye - a week off, four weeks before the pre-finals bye, would not be badly placed.

Swans play down Buddy hit, grave fears for Fyfe

Sydney senior coach John Longmire has played down the two incidents involving superstar Lance Franklin while Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe could have played his last game for 2021 after an eventful 40-point win for the Swans at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.

Fyfe re-injured his right shoulder in the second quarter and is likely to have season-ending surgery after leaving the field in the second term and Franklin may join him on the sidelines briefly after separate incidents that will go under the microscope of the MRO.

Franklin’s biggest concern will be the contact his left elbow made to the head of Fremantle defender Luke Ryan in the second quarter while his bump on Nathan Wilson in a marking contest in the first term should also get looked at.

Ryan tackled Franklin from behind near the boundary line in the forward pocket and appeared to be struck by Franklin’s left elbow as the star forward fought to get free.

Let me guess. Franklin gets away with this too ðŸ™„ #AFLSwansFreo pic.twitter.com/HQzJ9V8WsN
— Jason H (@jasonhimm2) July 25, 2021

Earlier, Franklin made heavy contact with Wilson who was in the air taking a mark. Franklin had eyes for the ball after he left the ground and did not make high contact with Wilson but the impact may be a touch late. Fremantle players remonstrated with Franklin after the collision.

Fremantle senior coach Justin Longmuir said Ryan had a “sore jaw” but it was not “too severe”.

Both Ryan and Wilson played out the match.

Longmire said he did not have a good angle on the second incident and a conversation with Franklin on the interchange bench in the second term was about defensive pressure in the forward line.

Michael Walters suffered a hamstring injury in the loss. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“No, limited vision a bit from where I was sitting on the bench. I saw the marking contest but didn’t see anything else other than that,’’ he said.

“I was just talking (to Franklin) about the course of the game. Just making sure we kept the ball in the front half, I can’t particularly remember. I talk to the players a lot so I can’t actually remember what that specific conversation was about.’’

Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton said the action from Franklin was “100 per cent intentional” and would’ve warranted a four-match ban in the rough and tumble days of the 1980s and 1990s.

“Lance could’ve flicked a fly off the end of Luke Ryan’s nose. He knows where the head is,” Brereton said on Fox Footy.

“I’m the biggest fan of Lance Franklin … (but) that’s everything wrong with our game.

Brereton was certain it was a “considered” action and former players, such as those who sit on the tribunal, would have no doubt that Franklin’s intention was to clobber Ryan.

The dual premiership star has a long history of actions which sit somewhere between callous and clumsy.

Match review officer Michael Christian fined Franklin $2000 for making forceful front-on contact against Port Adelaide’s Jarrod Lienert in round 15.

Christian also assessed Franklin making contact to Carlton’s Nic Newman in round 11, but opted not to lay a charge.

While the Swans rolled on and will welcome back their isolated players and staff this Tuesday, it was a disastrous afternoon for the Dockers who lost Fyfe in the second term and Michael Walters to a hamstring in the third term of David Mundy’s 350-game milestone match.

Fyfe walks off with a shoulder injury. Picture: Fox Footy

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said dual Brownlow Medallist Fyfe was likely to miss the rest of the season.

“That shoulder looks like it’s the same injury he has been playing with, so we’ll have to look at what we do now. The likelihood is he’ll probably go into surgery I’d imagine, now that he has had a re-injure of it so his season might be done,’’ Longmuir said.

“It felt like it had been improving, his confidence has been improving with it as well and sometimes when you’ve got a weak shoulder it can pop out in the same spot pretty easily again, but he’s got to go and get it looked at now.

“Sonny (Walters) has got a hammy, so we’ll get it scanned. He’s going to cut it fine to get back this year.’’

With Fremantle fighting to stay in the hunt for the top eight, the Dockers started brightly and should have been further in front at quarter-time than just seven points.

Longmuir said the Dockers “butchered opportunities” in the first term and “shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers…got real safe” after quarter-time as they failed to handle the Swans increased pressure.

Alex Pearce suffered a head knock late while Sean Darcy had to leave the field on a number of occasions with a left knee problem. Stephen Hill is understood to have suffered a hamstring problem in the WAFL this weekend while forward Josh Treacy was a late withdrawal at Metricon Stadium due to illness.

MATCH REPORT: SWANS KEEP TOP FOUR HOPES ALIVE

The Swans kept their top four hopes alive on the back of eight unanswered goals across the second and third quarters to claim their 12th win of the season.

Longmire said Sydney’s pressure “was through the roof” in the second term after a sluggish opening quarter and set-up the win with eight unanswered goals across the second and third quarters.

Sydney’s fourth win in a row keeps the Swans in the hunt for the top four as they are behind Brisbane on the ladder on percentage only.

Isaac Heeney was the star for Sydney with five goals, 22 disposals, a spectacular mark that sparked the Swans and a desperate smother that stopped a certain goal. Josh Kennedy was the driving force in the midfield with 34 disposals, 16 contested possessions, seven tackles and seven clearances.

Sydney are behind Brisbane on the ladder on percentage only while it was a disastrous afternoon for the Dockers who have fallen a game behind the race for the top eight and copped injuries to both Fyfe and Michael Walters (hamstring) in David Mundy’s 350-game milestone.

The Dockers looked good early but the injuries took their toll as Sydney stamped their authority on the contest in the second half.

The Swans pulled away from the Dockers with the first five goals after halftime when Freo’s Walters left the field with a hamstring injury as Sydney cruised to a 35-point buffer at the last change.

Two goals to Heeney and a long bomb from a tight angle to Tom Papley put Sydney in front at halftime as the Swans wrestled back the momentum.

After Fremantle lost Josh Treacy (illness) just before the first bounce and was replaced by Mitch Crowden, the Dockers dominated large portions of the first term only to have a seven-point buffer at the quarter-time.

The Dockers led clearances, contested possessions and inside 50 entries for the quarter but a late goal from James Rowbottom came against the run of play and kept the Swans in touch with Fremantle.

Fremantle would have lamented not being further in front as their ball movement, pressure and work rate had the Swans under the pump.

Mundy’s big week

It was a big week for Fremantle’s evergreen David Mundy. He celebrated his 36th birthday and a contract extension ahead of his 350-game milestone. His form in 2021 would suggest that a ‘Mundy 4-Hundy’ celebration in the coming years is more than a possibility. He had a quiet day by his lofty standards this year – an average of 25 disposals per game – with 17 touches, three clearances and a goal.

Heeney’s huge grab

Sydney’s Isaac Heeney ensured that Mark of the Year is not a fait accompli for Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt with a spectacular hanger in the second term. Heeney got a ride on top of Luke Ryan and soared high into the Gold Coast sky before clunking the Sherrin. His mark and goal sparked the Swans who needed a lift with the Dockers well on top.

“No late changes”

Those three words were like music to the Swans at Metricon Stadium on Sunday, a week after four players and staff were forced out of the Sydney derby at the same venue due to a Covid scare just minutes before the match was about to start. The emotion of that contest may have been a factor in the Swans being a little flat in the first term.

Memories of the AFL’s most famous smother

Collingwood’s Heath Shaw on St Kilda’s Nick Riewoldt in the 2010 grand final replay – flooded back when Sydney’s Isaac Heeney denied Freo ruckman Sean Darcy a certain goal in the first term. Darcy was alone at the top of the goal square and received a handball over the top. He took an eternity to get boot to ball which allowed Heeney to swoop in and stop a goal from point blank range.

SCOREBOARD

SWANS: 3.3 6.8 11.11 14.14 (98)

DOCKERS: 4.4 6.5 6.6 8.10 (58)

GOALS

Swans: Heeney 5, Parker 2, Franklin 2, Gulden, Rowbottom, Papley, Hickey, Hayward

Dockers: Taberner 2, Cerra 2, Darcy, Mundy, Schultz, Crowden

Greg Davis’ best:

Swans: Heeney, Kennedy, Gulden, Parker, Lloyd, Papley

Dockers: Brayshaw, Cerra, Serong, Wilson, Tucker

Injuries:

Swans:

Dockers: Fyfe (shoulder), Walters (hamstring)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Greg Davis’ votes:

3: Isaac Heeney

2: Josh Kennedy

1: Errol Gulden

KING MAX SHOWS WHY HE IS THE FUTURE

West Coast has maintained its weak grip on a top-eight spot with an unconvincing eight-point win over St Kilda at Optus Stadium on Saturday.

But the Saints key-forward, Max King, almost orchestrated another shock Eagles loss on their own turf.

It was only the Saints inability to find a partner for King in attack early that cost them a fourth win in five weeks.

Although, they almost didn’t need one.

King is beaming with confidence at the moment and poses a scary proposition for key defenders.

He took an impressive eight contested marks against a quality Eagles backline and kicked six goals in the 14.9 (86) to 12.8 (80) loss.

Forward Max King starred for the Saints on Saturday. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

King booted six goals in the loss to the Eagles. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos

“He’s still growing, learning what he’s capable of,” Saints coach Brett Ratten said of the 21-year-old post-match.

“Sometimes you need confidence.

“Hopefully that was a real breakout game for him. We know he’s talented.

“He’s a focal point, but he doesn’t have to mark the ball to influence games. When he’s playing well and bringing the ball to ground, others, like (Dan) Butler, come into the game as well.

“When you’re developing as a player, these moments throughout your career are an energy boost, and give you confidence to go from there.

“There is a bit of self-belief that you belong and what you can do in the game.”

Ratten said that others were now seeing King do what all of St Kilda sees him do at training.

His six goals weren’t all from shots straight in front either, with some coming from beyond 50m out. Others were slotted through from long distance and angles.

But it was his performance in the air that brought the game and his teammates to life, when it looked as though the Eagles were going to walk away with a comfortable win.

That ability for the Saints to fight back from 33 points down is what pleased Ratten.

West Coast had led by 33 points in the second term but when King booted his sixth goal, there was just over two minutes remaining and the margin was back to just seven points.

Not for the first time, however, a late Dom Sheed goal got the Eagles over the line.

Tough now for Saints

The result has put a massive dent in the Saints’ hopes for a late run to a finals spot.

They have been very good since the bye, with wins against Richmond, Collingwood and Brisbane, and they could easily have beaten Port Adelaide last week.

But Saturday’s loss to the Eagles leaves them with a 2-8 win-loss record against sides that started this round inside the top-eight.

And with a percentage of just 86.9, the task ahead of them to make the eight is a difficult one.

Brett Ratten’s side face Carlton next week, then play Sydney, Geelong and Fremantle in the run home.

Having Rowan Marshall watching the game from an Airbnb near Perth’s Scarborough beach didn’t help.

Marshall was forced into isolation this week after he’d visited a tier 1 Covid-19 exposure site in Melbourne following the Wallabies’ Test against France. He will remain in Perth for a few more days while he completes his quarantine period, before he can re-join his teammates.

Paddy Ryder was good in the ruck against West Coast’s Nic Naitanui – the pair each kicking a goal.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson promised he’d be swapping his players around and used Jeremy McGovern in the ruck, in his 150th game.

The Saints fell short, but Max King was amazing with six goals and eight contested marks ðŸ‘€

Enjoy it all in under a minute. #AFLEaglesSaints pic.twitter.com/mipKOQNvvp
— AFL (@AFL) July 24, 2021

Dom Sheed celebrates a late goal with teammate Tom Cole. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

Up to you, Darling

Goals haven’t been easy for West Coast to find over the past four weeks either. The Eagles kicked eight goals in the second half to beat Adelaide last weekend, but they had only four on the board until half-time.

In three consecutive losses before that, they kicked only six goals against the Western Bulldogs, three against Sydney and 8.12 in an embarrassing home-ground loss to North Melbourne.

When Liam Ryan limped from the ground midway through the first term on Saturday, one of the Eagles most reliable scorers was taken out of the game – he had booted five over the previous two weekends.

He hurt his hamstring in the follow-through after he kicked the Eagles second goal of the game, giving the home side a 12-point lead.

Jack Darling couldn’t have chosen a better time to impose himself on the game.

He’d kicked just two goals in the past two weeks, and no more than one in his past eight outings.

But after not touching the ball in the opening term, watched closely by Callum Wilkie, Darling kicked two goals in 90 seconds to start the second term.

His goal after the three-quarter-time siren, with only his sixth possession for the game, gave his side a 25-point lead.

Eagles star Tim Kelly gets away from Saint Luke Dunstan. Picture Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

Kelly’s ball

Luke Dunstan set the tone for the opening term and his Saints teammates went for the ride.

He had 10 touches in the first quarter, six of those contested and three clearances. The Saints had 20 more disposals for the term than the Eagles.

Dunstan has been pivotal in the Saints resurgence since the bye, which has seen them beat Richmond, Collingwood and Brisbane and almost knock over Port Adelaide last week.

He didn’t play in five of the Saints losses in the first 10 rounds of the season.

In those four games, Dunstan has averaged almost 30 touches and 13 contested possessions.

Zak Jones stepped up in the second term also, and two unanswered goals from King midway through the quarter dragged the margin back to one points.

But Tim Kelly raised the intensity for the home side from the start of the second term.

He controlled the second quarter, with 13 possessions, three clearances and five inside-50s. He kicked one of the Eagles six goals for the quarter

Josh Kennedy, who missed last week’s win over the Crows, booted two of his three goals in the second quarter and the Eagles’ efficiency was special to watch. They kicked 6.4 for the quarter from just 15 forward-50 entries.

They took momentum, and a 28-point lead into the second-half.

LIONS STAY IN TOUCH AFTER SECOND-HALF BLITZ

- Greg Davis

Brisbane kept its top-four aspirations alive after surging past a hot and cold Gold Coast with a rollercoaster 49-point victory in QClash 21 at the Gabba on Saturday.

The sluggish and sloppy Lions trailed the Suns by 29 points late in the second term but found their mojo after halftime, kicking 11 unanswered goals across the last two quarters to cruise to their sixth-straight Queensland derby win.

After back-to-back losses to St Kilda and Richmond, Brisbane started poorly but responded to a halftime revving from senior coach Chris Fagan for their 12th win of 2021 to keep them one win from the top four.

Lincoln McCarthy and Dayne Zorko celebrate during the win over the Gold Coast. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos

The Marcus Ashcroft medal for best-on-ground went to Brisbane midfielder Jarryd Lyons, who had 33 disposals, 18 contested possessions, six tackles and four clearances while Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney was a tower of strength with 18 disposals (16 contested), 40 hitouts and 11 clearances.

Brayden Fiorini had 41 touches for Gold Coast.

The second-half fizzle from the Suns was a bitter blow for Gold Coast, who has beaten Richmond and GWS and pushed the Western Bulldogs in the past three weeks. The Suns were sensational in the first half but were simply non-competitive after the main break.

A towering torpedo from Lions captain Dayne Zorko after the full-time siren rubbed salt into the Gold Coast’s wounds.

Brisbane roared back into the contest in the third term with five goals and five behinds, while the Suns managed just the two behinds as the Lions raced to a one-goal lead at the last change.

Daniher kicked his second freakish goal of the match while Lachie Neale, Charlie Cameron, Callum Ah Chee and Linc McCarthy all hit the scoreboard as Brisbane ran rampant over the Suns. Lyons had 10 touches in the third term for Brisbane, while McInerney dominated the ruck as the Suns’ manic pressure all but turned off.

The Suns exploded out of the blocks against the Lions in the first half. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos

The Gold Coast took a 27-point buffer into halftime with their superiority built on their suffocating defensive pressure and efficiency going forward as Brisbane looked rattled across the ground.

Everything the Lions did, Gold Coast did better as Ben King kicked three goals in the first half when Josh Corbett added two majors as the Suns out-hustled the home side with Touk Miller’s work rate a standout.

Gold Coast kicked six goals to two in the second term despite Brisbane enjoying a 17-11 advantage in inside-50 entries.

The Lions had 17 inside-50s to Gold Coast’s 11 in the first term as well but the Suns were still able to jump out to a 20-1 lead early before having a five-point cushion at quarter-time.

‘Big O’ mighty

Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney had a performance to forget against Richmond in Round 18 when Toby Nankervis lowered his colours but he bounced back with a dominant effort in the middle of the ground. When the Lions made their charge in the third term, the “Big O” had nine touches for the quarter as he continually gave Brisbane first use of the footy.

Ruckman Oscar McInerney was huge for the Lions on Saturday. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Lions’ concern going forward

Brisbane’s goalkicking inaccuracy woes popped their head up again. Joe Daniher missed two absolute sitters while Linc McCarthy sprayed one kick he would normally execute in his sleep as Brisbane had just four goals from their 13 scoring shots in the first half. The goalposts took a battering as Brisbane enjoyed a significant advantage in inside 50 entries but butchered the ball way too often. They were more efficient after halftime when they blew the Suns away but the re-emergence of the yips would be a cause for concern moving forward.

Howler that summed up Suns

Footy can be cruel. David Swallow was his normal inspirational self as Suns skipper for a vast majority of the QClash but he produced a howler of a turnover in the fourth term. Deep inside his defensive 50, he kicked the Sherrin straight to Brisbane’s Daniel McStay who gleefully marked the kick and ran into goal unopposed to give the Lions a two-goal lead. It summed up the second half for the Suns.

Young gun quiet - again

Izak Rankine needs to find the footy. The mercurial small forward has had a quiet 2021 and an even quieter past month. He had no touches at quarter-time and just three by halftime as Brandon Starcevich owned him again after dominating Rankine in the QClash in Round 9. He gave away a silly free kick in the second term when the Suns had all the momentum which would have displeased the coaching staff. He had just seven touches for the day.