AFL team news: Jack Buller set to debut for Sydney as Lance Franklin ruled out of Brisbane Lions clash

One of Sydney’s mid-season draftees will debut in a Friday night blockbuster after Lance Franklin was ruled out. See all the Swans and Giants team news here.

Sydney will be without two of its biggest names with Buddy Franklin and Isaac Heeney both ruled out of their round 14 clash against the Lions through injury.

The injuries open the door for mid-season draftee Jack Buller to make his AFL debut after a whirlwind first fortnight in Sydney.

Franklin has been ruled out of the game with knee soreness, just a week after his 350th AFL game where he became the fourth-highest goal kicker in VFL/AFL history.

Meanwhile, Heeney suffered a nose fracture during the game against St Kilda. He passed his concussion test during the game but reported symptoms during the week and will be managed in line with the AFL’s concussion guidelines.

Lance Franklin will miss Sydney’s crucial clash with Brisbane.

Jack Buller has made a flying start at Sydney.

Co-captain Luke Parker returns from suspension in a massive boost for the Swans who have lost over 500 games of AFL experience. Ryan Clarke is the other omission for the Swans.

Buller, 22, was initially overlooked in last year’s draft. Following a solid start to the season for Claremont in the WAFL, he was taken with the Swans’ second selection in the mid-season draft.

He then kicked five goals in his VFL debut against Sandringham last Friday, earning a one-year contract extension and forcing his way into John Longmire’s considerations for the Brisbane clash.

Jack Buller has 4.2 and 16 disposals during the 3rd quarter.

Lock him in Horse. #GoSwanspic.twitter.com/0xCzToW7UD

— Liam Clarke (@Clarkeyy23) June 9, 2023

The Swans had two selections in the mid-season draft due to Paddy McCartin being placed on the long-term injury list. Their other pick was Brisbane’s VFL defender, 24-year-old Harry Arnold.

“Jack was super and so was Harry, they were great,” Longmire said of their VFL showing.

“Just to get a couple of mature age, bigger bodies in our VFL team among a lot of our 18-19-year-olds made a big difference and it was good to see they both did a good job.”

At 199 cm, Buller will be a key target up forward for a Sydney side struggling for consistency in front of goal. In Franklin’s absence, Buller is set to compete with Hayden McLean and Joel Amartey, who returned last week as the Swans’ medical sub.

Buller’s task will be made harder in coming weeks with Logan McDonald likely to return in the next month, while Sam Reid has been ruled out for the season.

Jack Buller in action during the Under-18 national champs for Western Australia.

There will be at least one familiar face for Buller, who was a teammate of Chad Warner, and McDonald, in Western Australia’s national championship-winning under-18 side of 2019.

Across town, GWS will welcome back stars Josh Kelly and Sam Taylor for their crucial clash against the Dockers.

The Giants have not won back-to-back games since 2021 and coach Adam Kingsley hopes the return of some experienced players will help them get the job done against Fremantle.

“Just by my eye watching training, they all looked fine,” Kinglsey said.

“We’ve been missing those guys for a little while now. The addition of those sorts of players…they’re a great addition to the team and hopefully those guys who have been shouldering the responsibility continue to do so and we’re just adding these experienced players to the group.”

Josh Kelly is poised to return to GWS’ team.

The pair come into the side at the expense of Ryan Angwin and Josh Fahey, both listed as emergencies.

Isaac Cumming has also been named as an emergency as he pushes for a return following a calf injury.

Versatile Harry Himmelberg will remain in defence, named to start at centre halfback. But Kingsley conceded he could be moved forward again to make way for more returning defenders in coming weeks.

No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman has been named as the final emergency and will spend at least one more week in the VFL after a quiet match against North Melbourne last week.

“We know he’s going to be a really special player for us long term, we’re in no hurry to bring him back in,” said Kingsley.

Originally published as AFL team news: Jack Buller set to debut for Sydney as Lance Franklin ruled out of Brisbane Lions clash