SWANS WILL REGROUP AS BUDDY EYES MILESTONES
GHOSTS OF GFS PAST
THAT last Saturday in September was a horror show for Sydney. Injuries, a whopping 81-point margin … just about the only grand final highlight for Swans fans came in the form of Delta Goodrem and Robbie Williams. But we digress. How Sydney will bounce back will be telling. That topic hasn’t been ignored over the summer, but getting back out there for the first time is the best thing for a young, close side determined to respond.
GOOD BUDDY
IT’S already been flagged that Lance Franklin will miss some games, and at 36, who could argue with that logic? The ward has had and will be built up as the year and some more big targets loom. There are nine matches until his 350-game milestone, and 11 goals needed to move to fourth in the all-time goalkicking list. “He’s still a very important part of what we want to achieve in 2023,” Sydney chief executive Tom Harley said recently.
THE NEXT STEP
BREAKOUT players have another pre-season under their belts and will be all the better for it. The heartbreak story of the grand final was Logan McDonald. It would burn at the best of times, but at 20? Swans supporters will be hoping to see him really cement himself alongside Ollie Florent – at his best at halfback – Errol Gulden and Chad Warner.
WHAT ABOUT FRANCIS?
AARON Francis has mainly featured in defence since making the move to Sydney, but a few recent injuries meant John Longmire had to swing him forward, meaning he could still loom as a potential swingman option in red and white. He’s continuing to develop in the Swans’ game style and Longmire says he is confident Francis will “continue to challenge himself to be a better player” as he looks to reinvigorate his game at a second club after a frustrating run at Essendon.