AFL: Sydney Swans will appeal Lance Franklin’s striking ban as they try to clear him for clash with Melbourne

Lance Franklin was offered a one-match suspension for striking Tiger Trent Cotchin but the Swans have made a call on whether or not to appeal.

Sydney forward Lance Franklin faces a one-match ban for striking Richmond's Trent Cotchin. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sydney will challenge the intentional aspect of superstar forward Lance Franklin’s striking charge as it tries to clear him for Saturday night’s clash with reigning premier Melbourne.

Franklin received a one-game ban for striking Richmond’s Trent Cotchin in last week’s thrilling six-point win, with match review officer Michael Christian deeming the contact to be intentional, low impact and high.

The 35-year-old was mostly outstanding in Friday night’s triumph, kicking five goals to score himself the Goodes-O’Loughlin Medal as the best player afield.

Coach John Longmire confirmed the Swans were appealing the suspension and offered some insight into how they planned on overturning the champion goalkicker’s sanction.

“We’re just going to challenge the MRO view that it was an intentional strike,” Longmire said.

Sydney’s Lance Franklin was in imperious form against the Tigers with five goals in a best-on-ground display. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“There’s not much more I can say outside of that at the moment.

“I think his focus, generally, is on us winning and he’s a real competitor. I was disappointed that the free kick was given away, in that case.

“But, generally, he’s a real competitor who loves to win and really sets a good example for our team.”

The Demons, who suffered their first defeat on Saturday after 17-straight victories, will be without All-Australian full-back Steven May, which will leave them especially vulnerable if Franklin plays.

Longmire labelled May an “A-grade player” but said Melbourne’s “great system” behind the ball would ensure the Demons were still capable of making life tough for Sydney’s forwards.

Swans coach John Longmire is wary of Melbourne despite the reigning premier missing Steven May. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Hickey (toe) and Nick Blakey (illness) are potential inclusions, with the outcome of Franklin’s tribunal case potentially impacting Sam Reid’s spot in the side after his three-goal haul against the Tigers.

Hickey may not be able to train until Thursday but remains in contention to partner Peter Ladhams in the ruck against the Demons’ star duo Max Gawn and Luke Jackson.

The Swans could also opt to stretch Melbourne’s under-strength backline, as Fremantle did with three tall forwards at the weekend.

Sydney overcame another of its now trademark lapses to topple Richmond but Longmire pointed to the gulf in experience between the teams, including the Swans fielding seven players 21 or younger.

Tom Hickey (right) is pushing to return for Sydney’s clash with Melbourne ruck duo Max Gawn and Luke Jackson. Picture: Getty Images

“For large parts of games (in the past five weeks); we’ve actually been really competitive and played some good football and it’s just been a quarter here or there that has let us down a bit,” he said.

“So we’re looking at trying to make sure we don’t let that happen, because against the best teams it’s hard to come back from there.

“We understand there’s going to be some inconsistencies at times. At the weekend, we were 40 games less on average than our opposition.

“It’s not going to be absolutely perfect every week with some of the young players playing key roles for us.”

Longmire conceded his team’s youth was just one of the contributing reasons for the costly lapses but was confident it would improve through “living the actual experience”.