Lance Franklin will miss up to a month with leg injury

Swans star Lance “Buddy” Franklin will miss up to four weeks after injuring his leg during his side’s loss to the Giants on Saturday.

Franklin bagged five majors in the Swans’ loss to the Giants.

Lance Franklin will miss between three and four games after sustaining a leg injury in the Swans’ loss to the Giants on Saturday.

Franklin limped from the field after a collision with Giants defender Connor Idun in the third quarter but was able to return later in the match.

Scans in the days that followed revealed Franklin had suffered bone bruising and will miss up to a month of footy.

“He reckons it’ll be two (weeks on the sidelines). We’ve said three to four, so that probably gives you an idea of where the discussions go,” Swans coach John Longmire said.

John Longmire has provided an update on Lance Franklin after the star forward injured his knee in the Sydney Derby.

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) April 19, 2021

“Unfortunately it was just a collision-type injury that you can’t do much about. That’s what happens, hopefully it’s only a few weeks and he gets back going again.”

Franklin’s injury could see him miss the Swans’ crucial clash with the undefeated Demons in round eight, as well as games against the Suns and Cats in the next two weeks.

The star forward will be joined in the casualty ward by in-form teammate Tom Hickey, who picked up a PCL injury in Saturday’s game.

Hickey is set to miss between six and eight weeks with his injury.

Longmire remained coy on who will replace Franklin and Hickey for this weekend’s game against the Suns, but said the Swans “have some options” to choose from.

“We’ve got some experience there, some youth there. We haven’t worked out who or what it looks like just yet but we think we’ve got some options there.”

Injuries have limited Franklin’s AFL appearances in recent years, with the former Hawk last playing a full season of footy in 2017.

Soft tissue concerns ruled Buddy out of the entire 2020 season as well as the first week of this year.

Franklin came off second best in his collision with Idun.

Originally published as Lance Franklin will miss up to a month with leg injury