Attack is best form of defence for Carlton skipper
THERE is light at the end of the tunnel for Lance Franklin, with Sydney hopeful its marquee star is nearing an AFL return.
And while defender Dane Rampe boarded the Swans’ plane bound for Brisbane on Thursday with a sling to support his broken hand, he is a strong chance to line up against St Kilda on Saturday, only five days after surgery.
Swans chief executive Tom Harley praised Rampe for his rare toughness in playing through last week with a broken hand and putting himself in the frame to back up against the Saints.
Harley also indicated Franklin’s return may only be a couple of weeks away, but Sydney would not put an exact date on its expectations or be drawn on the prospect of him returning for a Sydney derby blockbuster against the Giants in Perth.
“Lance is certainly coming (to the hub),” Harley said.
“His training has progressed really well. He’s running. He’s doing light skills and knowing Lance he’ll be knocking on the door pretty soon.
“We obviously need to take a cautionary approach but certainly we’re hopeful of seeing Lance in a couple … I shouldn’t put a timeline on it, but before the season’s out.
Pressed on whether that meant Franklin might be in line for a return on August 13 in Perth, Harley said there was no specific target.
But the good news is the 33-year-old is ramping up his training.
“Clearly he’s training at the moment and we’re off to Brisbane before we go to Perth,” Harley said. “We’ve got two games in Brisbane and train as a squad, players will continue their programs.
“We won’t rush to deadlines to squeeze Lance into any particular game.
“We’ll make sure he goes through all the appropriate hurdles.”
Rampe will be given every opportunity to play against the Saints. “We hope so. He had surgery as soon as possible on Monday morning and his effort last week was one of the most inspirational things I’ve seen in footy and that’s over a long time,” Harley said.
“He’ll make sure he gives himself every opportunity and clearly we’ll give him every opportunity to prove his fitness.
“If he gets up, it wouldn’t surprise me. We’ll be planning for him to play but we’ll give him as much time as possible.”
CARLTON coach David Teague says he has discussed ways of “trying to combat” opposition attention on Patrick Cripps, but stopped short of suggesting his co-captain was unfairly treated.
The Blues indicated this week they would raise Cripps’s treatment at the hands of North Melbourne in last Saturday’s win with the AFL umpiring department.
Meanwhile, GWS will receive a boost on Sunday for its clash against Gold Coast, with star defender Zac Williams confirmed to return from a hamstring issue.
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Giants have been heavily criticised for their slow ball movement this season, a strategy that has somewhat nullified the influence of star forward Jeremy Cameron.
But GWS midfield jet Lachie Whitfield said Williams’s influence at the back could turn things around.
“Zac plays fast and he’s obviously an elite kick. He’s got good speed with ball in hand, so it’s an added boost,” Whitfield said.
“With him out, we’ve had to shuffle around a few things, so players have played out of position which obviously doesn’t help ball movement.
“To have him back, not only does he bring his attributes to the team, but he allows a few other players to play in their preferred positions, which will help the team and help the ball movement.”
Teague said it was nothing new for teams to target the opposition’s best players, but he was focused on what he could do about it, rather than pointing fingers.
“Every opposition puts a lot of time into the opposition’s best players and Patrick is that for us,” he said.
“I don’t get too caught into it. I speak to Patrick about his role, we talk about ways of trying to combat it.
“But in terms of the umpiring, I feel they are doing their best and I feel it’s very hard to watch every contest at once.”
The lack of free kicks awarded to Cripps, and opposition tactics at stoppages are a concern for the Blues.
Teague said he was not aware of the response from the AFL, but backed Cripps to continue “attacking the ball”.
“I think maybe the club followed up. I haven’t heard of the response,” he said.
“It’s got a bit of attention this week, but this is quite common.
“But what we love is the way that Patrick goes about it and he keeps attacking the ball and keeps competing for us.
“I will try to focus on what we can control and that’s the way that Patrick plays and his role for the team, and he has been really strong in that area.”
The Blues claimed their fourth win of the season last week.
But Teague said they had to work on limiting lapses in matches.
“We have probably had lapses in games, so that is probably more moments where the opposition have got on top and been able to score,” he said.
Despite the heat on Hawthorn’s performances before the clash at Optus Stadium, he was prepared for a strong response from the Hawks.
“Good teams respond . . . so we will prepare for them to come out strong,” he said.