SYDNEY’S 40-point AFL win over Fremantle on the Gold Coast has been soured with Lance Franklin in hot water for elbowing an opponent in the head.
The Swans superstar was penalised after connecting with his left elbow to the head of Fremantle’s Luke Ryan in the second quarter of the 14.14 (98) to 8.10 (58) win at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
Franklin may also find himself attracting the attention of the AFL match review officer for an incident in the first quarter when he caught Nathan Wilson high in a marking contest.
It’s not the first time the key forward has been in trouble this season after he was fined $2000 for making forceful front-on contact with Port Adelaide’s Jarrod Lienert last month.
Franklin ended the game with two goals, moving to 983 for his career as he closes in on the thousand-goal milestone.
Moments after his run-in with Franklin, Ryan was in the thick of the action when Isaac Heeney used him as a stepladder to take a sensational mark which sparked a three-goal run by the Swans to take a three-point lead into the half.
The Swans would go on to kick eight unanswered goals across the second and third quarters to establish a match-winning lead.
Heeney ended the game with five goals and 22 disposals in an all-action display while Luke Parker had two majors for the Swans.
Josh Kennedy was also sensational for the Swans with 34 disposals, seven tackles and seven clearances.
Fremantle’s day of celebration, as veteran David Mundy made his 350th AFL appearance, quickly turned into a horror show.
After a strong start where Justin Longmuir’s team failed to really capitalise on their dominance, the Dockers finished the match without captain Nat Fyfe (shoulder) and small forward Michael Walters (hamstring).
Fyfe’s right shoulder appeared to dislocate as he fought for the ball just before halftime while Walters limped off early in the third term clutching his right leg.
Sean Darcy also spent time off the field as he struggled with the left knee injury he tweaked in last weekend’s match against Geelong.
Adam Cerra (two goals, 30 disposals) and Andrew Brayshaw (34 disposals) were the Dockers’ best with Matt Taberner also kicking two goals.
(C) AAP 2021
SYDNEY 3.3 6.8 11.11 14.14 (98)
FREMANTLE 4.4 6.5 6.6 8.10 (58)
Goals: Sydney: I Heeney 5 L Franklin 2 L Parker 2 E Gulden J Rowbottom T Hickey T Papley W Hayward. Fremantle: A Cerra 2 M Taberner 2 D Mundy L Schultz M Crowden S Darcy.
Umpires: Mathew Nicholls, Hayden Gavine, John Howorth.
Official Crowd: 2,875 at Metricon Stadium.
