SYDNEY will come to Adelaide Oval to tackle Port Adelaide on Saturday with nothing to lose after two big losses in a week – one of them a season-ending injury to a key player.
The Swans are still smarting from a 31-point defeat to Fremantle last weekend which saw them restricted to just two goals for the entire game and were also dealt a big injury blow when star forward Lance Franklin was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Franklin has not played all season, having managed just ten games last year.
The 33-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in May and had been building up his training with the intention of returning to the field this season but he developed groin soreness and Sydney’s medical team decided it would not be worth risking him with just four weeks remaining.
The Swans boast one of the lengthiest injury lists which includes first-team regulars Franklin,co-captain Dane Rampe, Isaac Heeney, George Hewett, and Sam Naismith among a host of other players who won’t play again this season.
The one positive out of the loss to Fremantle was that there were no further injuries reported by the Swans.
Port Adelaide has won the last three encounters between the sides, though Sydney 13 of the 14 games involving the sides before that, and holds the overall advantage with 20 wins from 30 meetings.
And the Swans have won two of their three games against Port at Adelaide Oval so the venue holds no fears for the side from the Harbour City.
Saturday’s game will be the 150th AFL game and club game for Sydney’s Jake Lloyd as well as the 100th AFL game and club game for Port Adelaide defender Darcy Byrne-Jones.
The Swans will name their side on Friday evening for the game against Port the following afternoon.
