SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Lance Franklin of the Swans kicks his 1000th during the 2022 AFL Round 02 match between the Sydney Swans and the Geelong Cats at the Sydney Cricket Ground on March 25, 2022 In Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Sydney Swans and Lance Franklin will challenge the star forward's one-game suspension by the AFL's match review officer for striking Trent Cotchin during Friday night's game against the Richmond Tigers.

In a game the Swans would ultimately win by six points after being behind by 25 points at halftime, and six at three-quarter time, the key talking point involved Franklin's coming together with Cotchin.

Cotchin had appeared to be attempting to prevent Franklin freely moving off the ball, making two separate attempts to block Franklin.

It saw Franklin lash out, with the first contact being a push to the chest, before a second effort from Franklin saw his hand connect with the side of Cotchin's face.

He then followed up with an elbow directed at Cotchin before the pair separated.

The match review committee on Saturday evening elected to hit Franklin with a one-game ban for striking, having deemed the incident in question as Intentional Conduct, Low Impact and High Contact

The veteran Swan will face the AFL Tribunal this week after the club confirmed they will challenge the suspension on Monday.

"We're going to challenge the MRO view that it was an intentional strike," Swans senior coach John Longmire said.

"That's what we'll be doing, there's not much more I can say outside of that at the moment.

A suspension for Franklin will see him miss next week's crucial clash with the Melbourne Demons.

The match between Melbourne and Sydney is scheduled for 7:25pm (AEST) next Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.