Superstars return for showdown
Sydney will expect to welcome back superstars Lance Franklin and Luke Parker for their elimination final against GWS at the SCG.
Franklin and Parker were both late outs from the Swans’ clash with Hawthorn last Saturday night, both with groin complaints.
Coach John Longmire said both could have played but the club erred on the side of caution and rested the pair.
They are likely to remain off the track until at least Monday – five days out from the blockbuster sudden-death final against their crosstown rivals.
“They’ll both do their own separate plans,” Longmire said yesterday.
“We expect them to do some training next week and we’re really looking forward to that. Lance has already had a jog on the treadmill and pulled up quite well, and he’ll do a bit more on Friday.
“I think all the clubs appreciate it (the week off), and there’s no doubt it gives us an opportunity to get a couple of players back.”
The Giants are also expected to be boosted following two straight defeats, including one to the Swans in round 22 which preceded their loss to Melbourne on Sunday.
Forward Toby Greene says he feels fitter than at any stage of his injury-plagued season and should be “100 per cent” for the derby.
Greene has missed the Giants’ past three home-and-away rounds with a hamstring injury. He’s played just seven in total after initially breaking a toe, and also suffering a foot injury.
“I’ve been training fully for about a week now so I’ll be all good, 100 per cent in a couple of weeks,” Greene said.
“It has been frustrating but I’m probably the fittest I’ve been at the moment all year so looking forward to the finals series.”
Veterans Brett Deledio, Ryan Griffen and Matt de Boer, and key defenders Aidan Corr and Sam Taylor are also fighting to be fit.
“We’ve been a bit unlucky with injuries this year but there’s a lot of boys who will be pushing for that first week of finals,” Greene said.