Buddy Franklin is likely to miss another game this week with a hamstring injury. Buddy has missed the last three games due to the injury which he copped during a training session ahead of the game against GWS. “Lance Franklin pulled up sore from our final training session last week and didn’t get up for our game against Essendon,” Swans Head of Football Charlie Gardiner told the club website. “Our medical team have said that he is probably more unlikely than like to play at this stage. “I am not expecting Lance to take the field against North Melbourne.” Sam Reid is likely to play, however, after copping a knock to his hip flexor against Essendon. Make sure you download the Triple M Footy app on iTunes or Google Play to stay across all the best footy stuff!<doc-sep>Sydney look set to be without Lance Franklin for a third straight week, with reports that he will miss Friday night's clash with Essendon at the SCG. The superstar key forward has sat out the losses to GWS and Brisbane with a hamstring injury, with the Swans set to take a conservative approach on their main man. Buddy currently sits on the 295 AFL games and, if he returns for the round nine clash with the North Melbourne, will be on track to bring up his 300th against former club Hawthorn at the SCG. MORE: RoCo Responds: Was the tribunal right to let Gary Ablett off? It's understood the 32-year-old year old was required to complete training on Wednesday evening, though the issue was still plaguing him. Should Franklin be ruled out of the Bombers clash, the heavy lifting in Sydney's forward line will again be down to the youngsters. 19-year-olds Tom McCartin and Nick Blakey have been leading the line in Franklin's absence, while Sam Reid continues to search for his best form following an injury hit few seasons. Young mid-size option Will Hayward eased the load, makinge a successful return from a broken jaw in the Swans' loss to Brisbane in round seven. Last week, coach John Longmire flagged that off-season recruit Daniel Menzel was a chance to play in the reserves this week as he recovers from groin surgery. That was confirmed by the club, with Menzel set to play on reduced minutes in the NEAFL match against Sydney University. At his best, the former Cat would provide a much-needed boost to a Swans side that sits last on the ladder with a solitary win. Coming off a four-goal performance against the Lions, Tom Papley is also a doubt to take on the Bombers after copping a knee to the ribs against the Lions. Harry Cunningham will definitely miss, ruled out for six to eight weeks after tearing his adductor, while the news is also bad for veteran small defender Nick Smith who underwent more surgery on his troublesome hamstring.<doc-sep>Sydney superstar Lance Franklin is set to miss a fourth straight AFL game because of his hamstring injury. The Swans were initially confident that Franklin would be sidelined for only one match, having been a last-minute withdrawal from the Sydney derby on April 27. But he pulled up sore last week and Sydney football manager Charlie Gardiner has confirmed the four-time Coleman medallist is unlikely to face North Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday night. The news is better for fellow forward Sam Reid, who is expected to tackle the Kangaroos despite suffering a bad knock to his hip in the Swans’ win over Essendon. “Looks like he will be OK,” Gardiner said. “He is getting lots of treatment and I think he will come up for this week’s game.” Franklin, having played 295 games, will celebrate the most meaningful milestone of his decorated career soon after getting back on the park. If he returns against Collingwood next week then game No.300 will come in round 15, when the Swans host Gold Coast. Sydney coach John Longmire last month described Franklin’s setback as “a very minor strain”, suggesting the 32-year-old came close to running out against GWS. “We spent a bit of time talking about it, umming and ahhing about it, but we just didn’t take the risk,” Longmire said at the time. Franklin has since made steady progress in his recovery but hit a hurdle last week while attempting to prove his fitness for the SCG clash with the Bombers. “We just have to make sure we follow our really detailed plan and have him ready to go when he’s right to play, whether that’s this week or next week,” Longmire said on Monday.<doc-sep>
Sydney will be without superstar forward Lance Franklin for a fourth straight match as he continues to battle a hamstring issue. Franklin was thought to be a chance to face Essendon at the SCG last Friday but failed to complete the final training session. It was expected that Buddy would be right to face North Melbourne in Hobart this week, though the club confirmed that he will again sit out. MORE: Adam Treloar tags Patrick Cripps as the AFL's best Sydney footy manager Charlie Gardiner spoke to the club website about the 32-year-old. "Lance Franklin pulled up sore from our final training session last week and didn’t get up for our game against Essendon," Gardiner said. "Our medical team have said that he is probably more unlikely than likely to play at this stage. "I am not expecting Lance to take the field against North Melbourne." The Swans scored their second win of the year with a dramatic five-point victory over the Bombers on Friday. With no Franklin in the forward line, young gun Nick Blakey enjoyed a breakout game, while Tom McCartin was also influential in the win. Fellow key position player Sam Reid continues to search for his form after a couple of injury-hit seasons and looks set to face the Roos despite picking up a hip flexor issue. Former Cat Daniel Menzel could be nearing his first game for the Swans after successfully making his return from off-season groin surgery in the NEAFL on the weekend. Menzel kicked three goals and pulled up fine, though the club are being patient with his progress. "We think he will need some more time in the reserves before he pushes for senior selection, but we are hoping that is sooner rather than later," Gardiner said.