'Really upset': Jesinta Franklin opens up on Buddy's devastation
Jesinta Franklin says husband Buddy is devastated after the Sydney Swans star suffered another injury setback on Wednesday.
Lance Franklin could miss more than half of the AFL season after sustaining a serious hamstring injury while doing some running drills at training on Wednesday.
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After a scan on Thursday the Swans said Franklin won’t be able to resume running for 3-4 weeks.
“It's slightly worse than the (hamstring) injury he sustained last year when he missed about nine weeks, that might be an indication, but we just don't know until he get into his rehabilitation and we see how he progresses,” Swans general manager of football Charlie Gardiner.
“We will obviously be guided by the medical team; they are also seeking advice in relation to the best treatment and management of the injury going forward.”
The 33-year-old spearhead, who is in the seventh season of a lucrative nine-year deal, played only nine games in 2019, bringing up his 300th appearance in the Swans' final fixture of the season.
“It’s absolutely devastating, he came home yesterday from training early and he was really upset by what had happened,” Jesinta said on Channel 7 on Thursday morning.
“He’d spent the whole pre-season working so hard – even in lockdown he’d focused so much on staying fit and healthy which is really hard when you’re not training with your teammates and there’s no fixture in sight and no idea when you’re going back to play.
“It’s really unfortunate, I think it’s just part and parcel in playing professional sport and it’s what happens and you’ve just got to keep positive.”
Jesinta said their new baby Tallulah would help take Buddy’s mind off the latest setback.
“We were talking about it (the injury) this morning and I really think having Tallulah at home will help him through this stage because for any athlete being injured is mentally the toughest thing that they can go through,” she added.
“I think that’s what everyone has to be really wary of too, I’ve seen really nasty comments online.
“That is their job, their body is their job. When they hurt themselves or they injure themselves, it’s actually mentally extremely challenging.
“I think people just need to be really understanding of that.
“He is really tough, he has been playing for 17 years now but it’s not nice to see someone hurt themselves, it’s his passion and he’d love to be out there playing so it’s sad.”
Lance Franklin’s latest injury setback
Franklin was yet to rejoin the club’s main training group as he was being eased back into drills following a knee arthroscopy in January.
The 33-year-old missed the Swans’ opening round win over Adelaide before the season was suspended in March.
Gardiner said it was a new injury on Franklin's right leg.
“Probably one of the positives is that there's no tendon damage in the hamstring,” Gardiner said
Franklin needs 56 more goals to join Tony Lockett, Gordon Coventry, Jason Dunstall, Doug Wade and Gary Ablett Snr in becoming the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to reach the magical 1000-goal mark.
Earlier on Wednesday, ace Swans defender Dane Rampe said the two-month layoff had been beneficial for Franklin and he was tracking well.
“We'll be ramping him up ... he should be in full training on Friday and then hopefully get a few games in him as soon as possible,” Rampe told SEN.
with AAP
