John Longmire drops truth bomb behind Lance Franklin’s selflessness

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has come to the defence of Lance Franklin as pressure intesifies around his playing future.

Sydney coach John Longmire has revealed Lance Franklin spent two days in bed sick before last week’s loss, but forced himself to play due to his side’s injury crisis. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sydney coach John Longmire has revealed Lance Franklin spent two days in bed sick before last week’s loss, but forced himself to play due to his side’s injury crisis.

Longmire says expectations “have to be adjusted” for the 36-year-old forward, who was held goalless for a second consecutive week in the 17-point loss to Fremantle and has managed only seven goals in six games this season.

He defended Franklin against calls for him to retire, saying he was still crucial to the Swans and continued to take the best defender each week, creating opportunities for teammates.

“I spoke to (Franklin) Friday afternoon at 4.30 and he had spent all day in bed; he wasn’t going to play,” Longmire said.

“For him to be able to climb out of bed last week and get on the footy ground was just extraordinary.

Longmire says Franklin was ‘really sick’ before the Swans’ loss to Fremantle but played due to the absence of any other key forward options. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“Clearly at 36 it’s a challenge for him, but he knows that we desperately need him at the moment.”

With Joel Amartey (hamstring), Peter Ladhams (arm), Logan McDonald (ankle) and Sam Reid (hamstring) all unavailable, Longmire said Franklin was selfless to put his hand up and should not be criticised for struggling on the field.

“The only other option we had was (Aaron) Francis to play forward, but we had to use him back; there was no one else,” Longmire said.

“In our VFL team, all of our forwards were sort of 180cm … it’s a credit to Bud to put himself in a position to compete – as far as I’m concerned I think Bud’s always absolutely team-first.

Franklin was held goalless and to just four disposals in the loss to the Dockers at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“The realistic opportunity for us at the moment is we need him playing and he’s doing everything he can to get himself right every week to get out there.”

Key defender Tom McCartin, who began his career as a forward and would be a potential left-field option in attack, will again be missing against the Kangaroos in Melbourne as he battles concussion symptoms.

“Tom McCartin won’t be in the team this week but Pete (Ladhams) we expect will be if he gets through training,” Longmire said.

He said in-form midfielder Angus Sheldrick was among a number of VFL players in contention for a call-up this week, with tighter defence and more efficient ball use in the forward half the focus for the selected side against North Melbourne.

“We’d like to be more efficient going forward and have less easy goals kicked against us,” Longmire said.

“That’s what we’d like to be able to do and do it for longer. Unfortunately, we’ve had lapses in games and that’s what we’re trying to fix.”

Originally published as John Longmire drops truth bomb behind Lance Franklin’s selflessness