Lance Franklin’s shock withdrawal may cruel Sydney’s 2015 chances but give Fremantle huge boost

BUDDY Franklin’s shock withdrawal from the qualifying final hasn’t only cruelled Sydney’s chances, it has almost gift-wrapped a home preliminary final for Fremantle, writes Glenn McFarlane.

AFL Rd 23 - Sydney v Gold Coast

BUDDY Franklin’s shock withdrawal from Saturday’s qualifying final hasn’t only cruelled Sydney’s chance of redemption this season, it has almost gift-wrapped a home preliminary final for minor premiers Fremantle.

As the football world digests the news that Franklin won’t play this week due to ongoing mental health issues, and possibly for the rest of the final series, the Swans promised to do everything they can to put a caring arm around their star forward in his time of need.

But coach John Longmire’s plans for the club’s most important game for the year so far have been thrown into disarray.

While the Dockers would feel for Franklin given what he is going through personally, in a pure football sense, it’s a massive free kick for Ross Lyon’s team ahead of Saturday’s game.

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The withdrawal means the Swans will take the field at Subiaco without three of their best players, leaving them as vulnerable as they have been for some time.

Last year’s best and fairest winner Luke Parker (fractured fibula), co-captain Kieren Jack (knee) and now Franklin (mental health issue) will be absent, and it’s no shock to see the bookmakers have all but ruled a pen through the Swans’ chances for this week.

Luke Parker and Kieren Jack will be missing against Fremantle. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Their odds for the game have blown out to $3.15 and their premiership odds have blown out the gate to $9.

The loss of Franklin hurts so much in terms of the Swans’ set-up for this week, and maybe beyond it.

It’s not purely about the goals, it is just as critical in terms of Sydney’s structure.

For as much as Franklin has been troubled by back and rib soreness which has dulled his effectiveness and movement on the field, he means so much to the building blocks of the Sydney team, and not having him there is a massive free kick to Fremantle’s questionable defence.

If the Dockers do have a perceived deficiency, it is whether their back half can withstand the pressure of stopping the game’s elite forwards.

Franklin would have likely had Luke McPharlin as his shadow on Saturday, and his absence will free the Dockers’ best defender to take the next best option. That filters right down through the line.

Kurt Tippett will need to continue his good form if the Swans are to upset Fremantle. Picture: Phil Hillyard

On the flip side, the Swans won’t be as free in terms of being able to play Kurt Tippett in the ruck for extended periods — as he has done in recent weeks — because they will need him kicking goals and helping out down forward.

Sam Reid can’t do it on his own.

Co-captain Jarrad McVeigh is confident that can still be achieved: “We know everyone’s going to say why we can’t win this game of footy and all these types of things, but we’re pretty confident in our own ability and how we go about things (and think) our footy will stand up.”

And while Longmire admitted it will be tough to win in Perth, he said: “We’ve got a lot of experienced players in our playing group and we get a couple back this week (McVeigh and Ben McGlynn).”

The Swans have won five out of the eight games they have played without Franklin since he joined the club at the end of the 2013 season.

If they can make it six this week, and shock the Dockers, it will be one of the greatest wins of Longmire’s coaching tenure.