VFL/AFL great Leigh Matthews finds it a bit odd that Lance Franklin has been given the same penalty that Richmond’s Marlion Pickett received a few weeks ago.
The Sydney star was handed a one-match ban for an open-hand slap to the face of Tigers midfielder Trent Cotchin during the Swans’ win at the SCG last Friday night.
MRO Michael Christian deemed the incident as intentional, low impact and high contact, resulting in the initial ban which the Swans have since challenged.
When discussing if Franklin would get off at the Tribunal, Matthews referenced the one-match suspension that Pickett copped for a bump on Hawthorn’s Dylan Moore in Round 9.
He believes the questioning of the intentional aspect by the Swans seems strange.
“I wouldn’t think so (him getting off), with intentional as opposed to careless,” he said on Sportsday.
“What is interesting is Buddy has currently got a week for close enough to a punch - it was half a punch, half a shove - and Marlion Pickett got a week for a shepherd that went slightly high. I agree with that principle.
“It just doesn’t seem right that there’s the same (penalty for the) offense.
“Given that Buddy was actually probably lucky that the first little shove to Trent Cotchin didn’t really go high. Having a second go, that’s a bit more than careless, isn’t it?”
Gerard Healy agrees with Matthews, suggesting the Swans are arguing the wrong detail.
“I would have thought he’d have a better chance of getting off with insufficient force,” he said.
“Saying it wasn’t deliberate… he might have been aiming to hit him in the chest, but if you clip him on the chin that’s your problem.”
The Franklin case will be heard from 5pm AEST on Wednesday.
The 7-4 Swans (7th) face reigning premier Melbourne (10-1 and 1st) at the MCG on Saturday night.