What Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin told Swans manager John Longmire after picking up a calf injury against Essendon that could end the champions’ historic AFL career
- Franklin is disappointed by the pain in his calf
- Longmire says they’ll wait and see.
- The injury could end the star’s career
Sydney Swans manager John Longmire spoke to injured superstar Lance Franklin after the game and the big forward’s immediate reaction to his worrying injury was “disappointment”.
Franklin’s season could be in jeopardy after he limped off with a calf injury during the second quarter of the Swans’ stunning two-point win over Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
But Longmire remains hopeful that Franklin’s season isn’t over and he won’t jump to conclusions about the diagnosis until medical staff issue their final assessment.
“Obviously he has a tight calf, it was tight enough to get him out, so we’ll see how he looks tomorrow,” Longmire said.
‘He’s fine, I just had a talk with him then, he’s disappointed because he has calf pain.
Franklin’s season could be in jeopardy after he limped off with injury against Essendon
Coach John Longmire says he’s not jumping to conclusions about the nature of the injury.
‘Wait and see mate,’ he said, ‘see what tomorrow looks like.’
It’s been around for a long time and knows there’s no point in talking about it too much now.
We will wait until we have the facts in front of us.
Longmire was relieved after the Swans kept their season alive with a thrilling two-point win.
Leading by 37 points at one point during the third period, the Swans nearly blew it, but a late goal by Tom Papley saved their pain.
“Pretty critical at the end,” Longmire said of Papley’s goal from 60 meters that sealed the game.
‘It passed, bounced in the right direction and followed our direction.
‘(The feeling is) one of, we crossed the line, which is fantastic, it’s hard to win an AFL football game.
Longmire says they will wait until they have a medical diagnosis on Franklin’s injury
Sydney secured a thrilling two-point win over Essendon in Melbourne.
‘So when you do it, you really have to enjoy it, it’s really important.
And there is still work to be done.
One player who is flying for the Swans is young forward Joel Amartey, author of four goals.
“It’s a great job those guys do as key forwards and then go into the ruck,” Longmire said.
“To kick four and be a forward target and also in the ruck was important to us.”
Star defender Dane Rampe is also doubtful for the Swans’ home derby against the GWS Giants with a sore calf.
