Buddy set for first AFL game in more than a year

The Sydney Swans are set to receive a major boost, with superstar forward Lance Franklin expected to return for the club's clash with the Adelaide Crows on Saturday.

Franklin, who hasn't played since 2019 due to an ongoing battle with hamstring issues, turned out for the Swans reserves against the GWS Giants on the weekend and played 60 minutes in what was his first competitive clash for more than a year.

Following that performance, Swans coach John Longmire confirmed to reporters on Monday that he expects the 34-year-old to be available for Saturday afternoon's clash at the SCG.

MORE: Longmire baffled by reporter's Buddy question

"Lance pulled up fine and we expect him to play this week. It's good to get him back in the team," Longmire said.

"He has done a lot of work since August last year, he has done a lot of strength work and he has been training for quite a while now so itis great to get him back into the team.

"He has got himself in pretty good nick quite a few times, and he just hasn't quite got there so itis great to be able to have him back available to play, ready to go.

"We will train here this week and he will be right to go on Saturday."

Franklin's addition to the squad will prove a major boost for the club after the Swans kick-started their 2021 season on the weekend with an upset win over the Brisbane Lions.

The Swans have missed out on finals football for the past two seasons but with a new crop of young guns, there is growing hype the club can bounce back and make a shock September appearance in 2021.

Former Brownlow Medal winner Gerard Healy was one pundit who lauded the highly touted crop of youngsters following the win over the Lions.

"The beauty of this game has been the way the Swans have moved the ball, how they've played football," Healy said.

"This is a group of kids who have got high kicking skill levels and high winning-the-ball levels, and the game has opened up for them by rule changes and maybe coaching philosophies. That's worked to their favour."

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!