Essendon great Matthew Lloyd believes it might be in Sydney’s best interest to keep Lance Franklin on the shelf for 2020, if they’re not in finals contention.
The key forward suffered a hamstring injury last week, which could see him miss the first half of the season given it is reportedly worse than the hamstring that kept him out for nine weeks in 2019.
Lloyd said there was no point risking Franklin unless the Swans were in the finals mix.
“I don’t think he gets back until about Round 10 or 11,” he told The Sunday Footy Show.
“If they are out of finals contention, I just don’t think they should play him at all so I just think we may not see Buddy until next year.
“Why would you put him back out there?”
Former Richmond star Brett Deledio had his fair share of injury issues in the final years of his career and urges Franklin to take it slow and not push himself.
“I think from my own experience, you need to take your time with them and not rush,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“Your body needs to heal. What I’m seeing with Bud, you work so hard for so long, your body can’t keep up with what is needed for AFL footy.
“I’m not saying that is the case with him, but that does happen with older players. Take your time, let it heal and see how many games you can get back.
“When I got to the Giants with calf strain after calf strain, I’m normally a good healer and I’d push on. Bud is a competitive bugger, if he can take his time and read the warning signs and be patient.”