AFL 2022: Sydney Swans coach John Longmire

Swans coach John Longmire isn’t concerned about how champion forward Lance Franklin will respond to his underwhelming qualifying final performance.

Lance Franklin is looking to rebound from a scoreless game in Saturday’s preliminary final at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sydney coach John Longmire is backing superstar forward Lance Franklin to bounce back after copping criticism for his scoreless qualifying final against Melbourne.

Dual All-Australian defender Steven May gobbled up six intercept marks and 16 intercept possessions while keeping restricted free agent Franklin to seven disposals without even a behind.

The last time that happened was in a round 8 loss to the Demons last year, with Franklin set to be minded by in-form Collingwood backman Darcy Moore at the SCG on Saturday.

“That happens, even to the best, but it was a couple of weeks ago now and he has put it behind him,” Longmire said.

“He knows he will have a wonderful opponent again this week, so it doesn’t get any easier, but that’s what this time of year is about.

Swans coach John Longmire says Lance Franklin is ready to rebound from his scoreless qualifying final performance. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“You’re going to be playing against the best teams, the best players and he is a competitor and prepares himself very well, so he will do that again this week.”

The Magpies have played consecutive high-stakes finals, whereas the Swans have played once in the past three weekends, but Longmire said they had prepared as well as possible.

“We trained last week on Thursday and had a really good workout on Saturday – a tough session in pretty warm conditions – so that was good to be able to have that under our belt,” he said.

“It’s always a balancing act between making sure your players don’t get injured versus a really tough session, so we wanted to have a good session and that’s what we did on Saturday.

Ollie Florent is on track to play in Sydney’s preliminary final after shaking a foot injury. Picture: Getty Images

“The players had a really good blowout, pulled up well from it and that’s all you can do – prepare as best you can – and we felt the weekend session was an important one for us.”

Ollie Florent (foot) has resumed training and Longmire expected him to be “fine” but gave little away on his plans for quelling red-hot Collingwood midfielder Jordan De Goey.

“Clearly, he poses a threat. He’s a very good player in great form, so we look at that, but we also look at (Jack) Crisp, (Scott) Pendlebury, Josh Daicos, Nick Daicos and Steele Sidebottom,” he said.

“They have plenty of great players. It’s about the collective and understanding they have various strengths and we know what De Goey’s strengths are.”

Jordan De Goey has started the finals in scintillating form. Picture: Getty Images

Longmire also had some public advice for his swag of young guns as they prepare for the biggest match of their life to date.

“It’s really just concentrating on the play by play and looking at the things that work for us; putting your energy into our team play is really what takes some of that anxiety away,” he said.

“Whether it’s round 1, round 15 or a prelim final, if you concentrate on what you do and put your energies into that, that usually gives you every opportunity and allows players to focus on what they can control.

“That’s the most important thing in any game of footy, but particularly in finals games.”

Originally published as AFL 2022: Sydney Swans coach John Longmire