Buddy Franklin in worrying development after calls for Sydney Swans axing

A knee injury has ruled Buddy Franklin out of the Sydney Swans' blockbuster AFL showdown against Richmond on Friday night. The star forward succumbed to the knee soreness he experienced in a costly loss for the Swans against Port Adelaide in round four, in which the 36-year-old faced calls to be dropped after another underwhelming performance.

Franklin was injured late in Saturday's heartbreaking two-point defeat to the Power and has not recovered in time to face the Tigers at Adelaide Oval on Friday night. Richmond will also be missing their own spearhead, with Tom Lynch set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a broken foot, having seen his rough conduct charge on Alex Keath thrown out at the AFL tribunal.

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Buddy managed to finish the game against Port, but was facing calls to be dropped after another ineffective display for the Swans. Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd suggested Swans coach John Longmire might need to make a difficult call to axe the 36-year-old, with his knee injury ultimately taking that decision out of the club's hands.

"Lance completed the game against Port Adelaide but suffered a knock to the knee in the last quarter," Swans medical boss Damian Raper told the club's website. "He has been unable to train this week due to his knee soreness and will not play against Richmond this weekend."

Lloyd said Sydney's young forwards Logan McDonald and Joel Armartey haven't been able to strive due to Franklin's presence, with the Swans often preferring to target the veteran. “Johnny Longmire either has to drop one of the kids and he’ll probably cop it a fair bit for it,” Lloyd said.

“(Franklin) has to be (dropped). He’s not playing well. The three don’t work and then you’ve got Ladhams in the ruck so they’re just too big. They’ve got to make a hard decision, Sydney. They’ve got a lot of talent.”

Buddy Franklin called out over incident in loss to Port

Buddy was also called out by AFL journalist Mitch Cleary for his actions late in the heartbreaking loss to Port that may have cost the Swans victory. Callum Mills has copped the most heat for celebrating early and clearing space for Aliir Aliir to spoil Ollie Florent's last-gasp kick on the goal-line, which sealed a two-point victory for the Power.

Mills appeared certain that Florent's kick was sailing through the goals, with the co-captain raising his arms in triumph and running out of the square. That freed up space for Aliir to come forward and tap the ball away to safety, denying the Swans a last-gasp win.

But as Cleary has since pointed out on Twitter, Franklin may have been more at fault than Mills. The veteran forward didn't celebrate early, but came rushing into the square and cleared a Port Adelaide defender out of the way.

Franklin's actions also inadvertently left miles of space for Aliir, Charlie Dixon and Tom Jonas in the goal-mouth, with Aliir offered an easy run to spoil the kick. While Mills and Franklin may not have been able to provide enough blocking for Florent's kick to find its way into the goal, they've still come in for heavy criticism.

“Forget Callum Mills, where’s Buddy’s arm across Aliir Aliir to impede the most dangerous defender’s run at the ball,” Cleary wrote on Twitter. “Aliir is getting to it regardless of whether Mills is there or not.”

The Swans have more than just Franklin's knee injury to contend with ahead of the round five clash against Richmond, with both McCartin brothers also sidelined due to respective concussions. Luckless defender Paddy, who had nine concussions while playing for St Kilda, was substituted out of Saturday's game after a head knock that has again sparked concerns over his future.

Brother Tom, also a key defender, joined him on the sidelines with a concussion before halftime. "Paddy is doing well in the early stages of his recovery," Raper said.

"He still has some residual symptoms which are not unexpected. He will be monitored closely in accordance with the AFL's HIA protocols. Tom is also doing well in his recovery but will miss the match against Richmond after entering the AFL's HIA protocols. He will continue to be monitored closely."

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