Search

Longmire wants to enjoy Franklin's season

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire is comfortable with Lance Franklin's call to postpone contract talks and wants to enjoy the AFL legend's end to the season.

JOSH KENNEDY.
JOSH KENNEDY. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has urged the AFL community to enjoy Lance Franklin's on-field heroics rather than speculate on the legendary forward's future.

Franklin, who in March became the sixth player to reach 1000 VFL/AFL goals, has put contract talks with the Swans on hold until the end of the season.

The 35-year-old's stance came after he was linked to a shock move to the Brisbane Lions next year to finish off his illustrious career.

Franklin's monster nine-year contract with the Swans is up at the end of the season and he becomes a restricted free agent.

It is believed Franklin is weighing up retirement or a shock move to a Queensland club to be closer to his wife's family.

But Longmire is not worrying about next year after Franklin booted a team-high four goals in the Swans' comfortable 38-point win over North Melbourne on Sunday.

"He's been brilliant to watch for so long so let's enjoy it," Longmire said.

"He'll make that call at the end of the year, and he's got that right.

"He's given the game so much.

"Sometimes we can look into things and want black and white answers but sometimes we've just got to enjoy the moment with him and seeing him play."

Longmire said the club remained focused on the season with the Swans eyeing a top-four spot with two rounds remaining.

"It's big in the media and people talk about it, I chat to him about it, but it's not a big thing inside the footy club," he said.

"It's bigger everywhere else but he comes to the ground, trains, he comes to the meetings and enjoy his time.

"That's what he loves doing so let's just let him do the stuff he loves doing."

Meanwhile, Swans veteran Josh Kennedy suffered another suspected hamstring injury, casting doubt on his future

Kennedy walked off the field during the Swans' VFL clash with North Melbourne at Arden St on Sunday.

The 34-year-old has been pressing for a recall to the Swans' AFL 22, after being an unused sub in last week's thumping Sydney derby win over GWS.

Kennedy has not had any AFL game time since injuring his hamstring in the round 10 loss against Carlton, but has been playing well in the reserves.

Kennedy, who has played 290 games, is out of contract at season's end, but the Swans haven't closed the door on the former co-captain continuing on and potentially reaching the 300-game milestone.

He will have scans on hamstring to determine any damage.

"It was on the other side (the left), it's not the (right) hamstring he did early in the season," Longmire said.

"He told me 'I just pulled up a bit short at the start of the second quarter and knew I'd done something and would stop the game.

"How bad it is I don't know."

Match Center

{{getRoundsNames}}
Error occured
No matches found.

LIVE

{{match.timer ? match.timer : ""}}

{{match.listOfParticipatingTeams[0].isHomeTeam ? getScores('Live', match.listOfParticipatingTeams[0].score) : getScores('Live', match.listOfParticipatingTeams[1].score)}} - {{ !match.listOfParticipatingTeams[0].isHomeTeam ? getScores('Live', match.listOfParticipatingTeams[0].score) : getScores('Live', match.listOfParticipatingTeams[1].score)}}

live

{{group.date | formatDate}}