Lance Franklin could be set for the sidelines for the fifth week in a row as the star forward continues to struggle with hamstring issues, pulling up sore in the lead-up to round 10.
The annual Marngrook game at the SCG is set to take place this Friday between Sydney and Collingwood. Despite this game being the perfect setting for one of the AFLโs greatest indigenous players in Franklin to return for Sydney, the Swans are unwilling to push their star forward.
Yet to fully return and extend himself at training, the Swans expect Franklin to miss one or two more games, leaving him to look on from the sidelines.
Sydney coach John Longmire says that whilst Franklin did some kicking and ran well on Monday, he still has some work to do before being cleared to play. The Swans are in no rush to bring the 32-year-old back just for the Marngrook match.
"It does (mean a lot to him), he loves to get out there and compete anyway, let alone when it's a big occasion like this week," he said.
"He'd love to play, there's no question about that, but we've got to make sure he goes through the right steps and gets to the point where he's really confident in his body."
Apart from Franklin, the Swans will also be without Zak Jones who injured his hamstring against North Melbourne and is expected to miss two to three weeks. The side could see the return of Josh Kennedy, who was a late withdrawal against North Melbourne last week which quad issues.
