Prized off-season recruit Lance Franklin put together his best run of the AFL pre-season on Saturday as the Sydney Swans ran out 27-point winners over Brisbane in the last practice match for both clubs ahead of the AFL season opener next weekend.
Franklin impressed with two goals in the first half, but a knock to the knee saw the $10 million dollar man watch the remainder of the game from the bench.
The Swans took home the 12.14 (86) to 8.11 (59) victory in front of 6,096 spectators at Burpengary, north of Brisbane, and don’t expect to have any concerns regarding Buddy’s health when the club kicks off its 2014 season against Greater Western Sydney on March 15.
“He’s fine. He landed on his knee and got a corky on the front of his knee so he’s fine,’’ coach John Longmire said.
“He cooled down at halftime and was just a little bit sore.
“Rather than play the second half and carry it into training next week, we decided to finish him up but he’ll be fine for next week.
“I thought he looked pretty good in the first half.’’
Franklin’s eight-possession outing also saw the former Hawk spend time on the wing where he collected a couple of clearances.
West Coast Ruin Lance Franklin’s Debut
Brisbane forward Jonathan Brown was also back in action for his first run of the pre-season, but registered just two possessions in half a game.
The Lions midfield struggled with forward entry as the side managed just two goals during Brown’s stretch on the ground.
Some bad news for comeback kid Claye Beams who suffered a foot injury to be scanned early next week in what was just his second game back from a knee reconstruction.
The near full-strength Swans were led by 34 possessions and nine clearances from Jarrad McVeigh and 26 and nine from Josh Kennedy.
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