How do the Sydney Swans fill the Buddy Franklin-sized hole in their forward line?

There are no shortage of talls already in the Harbour City lining up to replace Lance Franklin. But as LACHLAN MCKIRDY reports, Sydney is planning a trade period which could shape its forward plans.

The Swans will start their search for Franklin’s replacement in-house. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Swans were already planning for life after Lance Franklin but the superstar’s retirement on Monday has expedited that process.

Coach John Longmire said at Monday’s press conference that there’s no replacing Buddy, but with a finals spot on the line, the pressure is on to find both a short and long-term solution.

The club is well stocked for small forwards who love a goal with the likes of Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley and Will Hayward set to lead their line going forward.

However, the Swans have a history of recruiting big-name talls. Lockett, Hall, Tippett, Franklin – do they need to add another marquee forward to their squad to keep the Sydney fans happy?

Here are some of the tall options they have for this season onwards.

IN-CLUB REPLACEMENTS

Joel Amartey

Age: 23 | Games: 24 | Goals: 26 | Height: 195cm

Amartey appears to be the immediate replacement to become Sydney’s new No.1 forward. His four goals against Essendon last weekend were crucial in their win and he has proven his strong marking ability. The key for Sydney will be keeping him on the park each week given his injury history.

Logan McDonald

Age: 21 | Games: 39 | Goals: 49 | Height: 195cm

In the long term, there’s no doubt that McDonald will be key for Sydney. And while it’s been a slow start for the No.4 draft pick, his 25 goals so far in 2023 have comfortably been his best season in red and white. Will only improve now he has more opportunities.

Hayden McLean

Age: 24 | Games: 48 | Goals: 38 | Height: 197cm

McLean has been deployed as Sydney’s No.1 ruck in recent weeks, coinciding with their three-game winning streak. However, he still sees his future as a forward and is a strong contested mark, so could push up the ground with Tom Hickey coming back into the side.

Longmire talks with McLean, Amartey and McDonald at training on Tuesday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Peter Ladhams

Age: 25 | Games: 52 | Goals: 27 | Height: 204cm

Recruited primarily as a ruckman, Ladhams is still slowly making his return from a serious ankle injury. His form was strong in the early part of the year and has played forward in his two weeks back in the VFL. Probably needs more game time and impact before being considered for senior selection.

Jack Buller

Age: 22 | Games: 1 | Goals: 0 | Height: 199cm

A highly touted player in the WAFL system, the Swans took a gamble on Buller in this year’s mid-season draft. He made a shock debut against the Lions and struggled to make an impact but has built impressively since in the VFL. Kicked four goals against Essendon last weekend and has 16 goals across his six matches in the reserves.

Jack Buller has been a proven VFL goalkicker this season for the Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sam Reid

Age: 31 | Games: 181 | Goals: 183 | Height: 196cm

Off-contract this year, Reid is the longest-serving player currently on the Swans’ roster after debuting in 2010. When he’s on, he’s proven to have a devastating impact for Sydney but has missed the entire 2023 season with a hamstring injury and would be hard to see him getting a new contract considering his injury history.

Cameron Owen

Age: 19 | Games: 0 | Goals: 0 | Height: 203cm

Seen as a long-term key forward prospect, Owen was selected with pick 17 of the 2022 rookie draft. He is strong overhead and is slowly warming up to life in the VFL with two goals in 15 games.

POSSIBLE TARGETS

Harry McKay (Carlton)

Age: 25 | Games: 103 | Goals: 200 | Height: 200cm

McKay’s name was floated earlier this season as one who the Blues would look to trade as Carlton struggled to make the most of their forward line. However, they’ve found form and McKay has played a role in that. Still, if the Swans want a big man who has proven goalscoring ability, they could do worse than McKay. He’s signed until the end of 2030 and is currently on the sidelines with a knee injury. Would take a big deal to get him to Sydney, but the Swans have proven they know how to get it done in the past.

McKay is on a long-term deal at Carlton but could be an option for the Swans if they want a marquee forward. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Harry Himmelberg (GWS Giants)

Age: 27 | Games: 145 | Goals: 160 | Height: 195cm

One of the more high-profile players coming off-contract this season, the Giants’ Harry Himmelberg has shown his ability to play forward or back and is relatively reliable in front of goals. The Swans were supposedly keen on the 27-year-old, but he is nearing a new deal with the Giants and their rivals would have to move quickly.

Brodie Grundy (Melbourne)

Age: 29 | Games: 193 | Goals: 70 | Height: 202cm

Grundy has fallen out of the Demons’ best 22 in recent weeks as his partnership with Max Gawn has not quite fired. It has led to calls to look to trade him, and the Swans are certainly in need of an elite ruckman. While he wouldn’t be a like-for-like Franklin replacement, there’s no doubting he would fit the billing as a marquee recruit who could allow other players to focus on their forward craft.

Jake Riccardi (GWS Giants)

Age: 23 | Games: 43 | Goals: 47 | Height: 198cm

The key forward has impressed across the stretch of the Giants’ seven-game winning streak. He has kicked 21 goals already this season and has been the subject of trade talk for other Victorian clubs. Off-contract at the end of this season, he could be an option for the Swans.

Originally published as How do the Sydney Swans fill the Buddy Franklin-sized hole in their forward line?