Sydney Swans axe Elijah Taylor after girlfriend assault conviction

The Sydney Swans have axed Elijah Taylor as the young footballer awaits sentencing for the aggravated assault of his ex-girlfriend.

Taylor played four senior matches in his debut AFL season but was suspended in August for breaking strict quarantine protocols.

The 19-year-old was then stood down from all football duties by the Swans in September after he was charged by police.

On September 30, Taylor pleaded guilty to unlawfully assaulting Lekahni Pearce and causing her bodily harm at a Perth hotel earlier that month.

The Swans consulted the AFL, AFL Players' Association and Taylor's management before making the decision to cut the player from their list.

Swans football manager Charlie Gardiner said in a statement on Monday the situation is "deeply regrettable".

"Elijah has made some very poor decisions which have led us to this point, and he acknowledges that," Gardiner said.

"This is certainly not a position we have arrived at lightly, however, Elijah's actions could not be reconciled.

"It is obviously a sensitive situation and a legal process is still to play out, but in working with Elijah and his management, our collective view was that the right call for both Elijah and the club is to part ways."

Taylor is due to appear in court again on December 2 for sentencing.

The Swans' initial decision to stand down Taylor after police laid charges was backed by AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan in August.

"Our view is clear and unequivocal. Violence against women is never OK in any circumstance, ever," McLachlan said in a statement at the time.

"Our absolute commitment is to respect women and to never accept or condone in any way, shape or form violence against women."

Franklin to step up AFL program in January

Sydney are hopeful Lance Franklin will be ready to stride into a full pre-season running program in January as the superstar veteran ramps up his AFL comeback bid.

Franklin failed to play a game in 2020 as a serious hamstring injury and subsequent groin trouble kept him sidelined.

But the Swans are confident the key forward, who turns 34 in January, can get back on the park next season.

"Our main aim at the moment is getting him really strong through the core," Sydney coach John Longmire told SEN on Monday.

"He's such a big man and we want to make sure he's really strong through that area and he gets himself in the best possible shape and has the strongest possible foundation before we get to the real strong running phase, which we hope will be in January."

Franklin still has two seasons left to run on the monster nine-year deal he signed with Sydney upon leaving Hawthorn at the end of 2013.

He managed just 10 games in 2019 and had hoped to play a key role in a regenerating Swans team this year before being cut down again by injuries.

"We took him away with the aim to having him playing this year," Longmire said.

"This time last year he was absolutely flying, so we had high expectations that he'd get back and play.

"But we were over in Perth (in August) and there was a training session there where he just pulled up a bit sore and we said that's enough now.

"We needed to try and make sure we reset him and get him really strong to see how he can go for a tilt at the 2021 season."

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