Melbourne will be without forward Bayley Fristch until the finals after he had surgery on his fractured foot with the injury expected to sideline him for the next seven to eight weeks.
The injury is a massive blow for the Demons as they will now have to fix their scoring woes without their leading goalkicker for the past three seasons. Fritsch kicked six goals in the club’s grand final win in 2021, kicked 55 goals last season and had kicked 29 goals this year.
Club doctor Laura Lallenec said the operation had gone well but she was cautious about predicting a return date.
“We’re expecting a return to play of approximately seven to eight weeks at this stage, but we’ll see how he goes,” Lallenec said.
Bayley Fritsch suffered a foot injury.that will sideline him for up to eight weeksCredit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
Meanwhile Sydney champion Lance Franklin will return to play against Richmond in what shapes as his final game at the MCG.
The Swans confirmed the 36-year-old was fit and would play against the Tigers with young forward Joel Amartey – who returned from a hamstring injury in round 13 to be managed after four consecutive games.
Franklin has not played since Sydney lost to the Saints in round 13 battling to overcome knee soreness in what is set to be the final year of his illustrious career.
He has kicked 340 goals in 113 games at the MCG and played in two premierships with the Hawks in 2008 and 2013. He has also played in four losing grand finals at the MCG in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2020.
Franklin in, Amartey out for big clash against Richmond at the MCG
It is also the scene of two of his most famous goals that earned him goal of the year in 2010 and 2013. The first occurred when he outran Essendon’s Cale Hooker down the member’s wing. The second was when Franklin leapt over players on the ground as he grabbed a loose ball and kicked a long goal in the wet against Collingwood.
With the Swans battling to make finals it is almost certain to be Franklin’s final appearance before his likely retirement at season’s end.
Star Sydney midfielder Chad Warner will miss again with a calf injury as they prepared to play Richmond who have announced that both Jacob Bauer and Sam Banks will make their debut.
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