Sydney will challenge a one-game AFL ban given to megastar Lance Franklin for striking.
Franklin has been offered a one-game suspension for striking Tiger stalwart Trent Cotchin during the Swans’ six-point win on Friday night.
But Sydney will challenge the match review officer’s ruling in the knowledge that even if found guilty, Franklin’s suspension won’t be increased.
The AFL’s match review officer Michael Christian graded Franklin’s contact on Cotchin as intentional, low impact and high contact.
But Swans coach John Longmire says his club has opted to challenge at the AFL tribunal, which is likely to hear the case on Tuesday night.
“We are just going to challenge the MRO’s view of it was an intentional strike,” Longmire told reporters on Monday.
“That is what we will be doing. There’s not much more I can say outside of that at the moment.”
If the ban is upheld, Franklin will miss Sydney’s clash against reigning premiers Melbourne at the MCG.
Franklin tangled with Cotchin late in the second quarter of the SCG fixture when the Swans forward was blocked by the former Tiger captain.
The pair faced each other and remonstrated with Franklin shoving Cotchin to the neck area before appearing to hit him in the face with an open right hand.
Cotchin reeled back and held a hand to his jaw after impact and was given a free kick, but he was not injured and played out the game.
Longmire said he was limited in what he could say about the incident ahead of the tribunal hearing but defended Franklin’s fairness as a player.
“His focus generally is on us winning and he’s a real competitor, I was disappointed when the free kick was given away in that case,” Longmire said.
“But generally he’s a real competitor that loves to win and really sets a good example for our team.”
Franklin last season had a one-match ban for striking Fremantle’s Luke Ryan overturned at the AFL tribunal.
And the 328-gamer has a long history of facing charges since his debut for Hawthorn in 2005.
Franklin has been suspended for a total of seven matches and been fined $16,750 throughout his career.
