Sydney star Lance Franklin has announced that he is fit and ready to go come round one.
In a recent interview with Channel Seven, he declared that he was feeling fresh. Declaring that he had both knees and his ankle operated on during the off season. As well as taking it easier on himself, in what he describes as a healthy break.
He will play in an intra-club match on Friday in Sydney, and is hoping that everything will play out correctly, so that he can commence his campaign in round one.
He also commented on the surprise retirement of his now former partner in crime Kurt Tippett, stating that "he will be missed".
Although he backed the abilities of Sam Reid and Callum Sinclair, who now will have even bigger shoes to fill with Tippett's departure.
Franklin's 2017 can be considered above average for a typical forward, averaging three goals a game and 17 disposals. Franklin is currently sitting at 860 goals, and one of the modern era's most revered forwards.
Are we supposed to believe he is even healthier than he was in 2017, and if so what does this mean for himself and subsequently the swans?
Will we see a repeat of his stellar 2008 season, in which he topped the tonne, the first player to do so in the regular season, since Tony Lockett did it for Sydney in 1998.
Sure he may be much older now, but if he is as healthy and fit as he claims, then this is really what should be expected of Franklin.
The Swans season will kick off their pre-season campaign against Brisbane in the JLT Community Series in Moreton Bay on the 3rd of March.
