Speaking to media on Monday afternoon, coach John Longmire confirmed that Franklin, who was a late withdrawal from Friday night’s win over Essendon with knee soreness, pulled up well after training this weekend, while Hannebery, who has missed six weeks with an ankle injury, is also on track to play against the Power.
“We expect (Franklin) to play,” Longmire told reporters on Monday.
“He’s pulled up well and is moving well today, and we expect him to train this week and play on Saturday against Port.
“We’d expect (Hannebery) to be along the same lines.
“He’s done all the training that he’s been required to do.
“He trained really hard yesterday and we expect him to train this week and be available to play this week as well.”
Despite being sidelined for five matches, Longmire said Hannebery would most likely slot straight back into the senior side, rather than spending a week in the reserves to get up to speed.
“He’s been training for a couple of weeks now and he’s been doing everything that’s been required of him,” he said.
“He’s an important player to get back in our team, so there would want to be a strong argument I guess to keep him out of the team.
“He’s a naturally fit player and he’s an extremely good endurance runner.
“If he’s available for selection then he’ll be pushing pretty hard to get in the senior team.”
With Rhyce Shaw and Kurt Tippett also returning from injury in the last two matches, the Swans are on track to field one of their strongest sides for the season this weekend.
While acknowledging it could take a number of weeks for the returning players to reach their best form, Longmire said he felt his team was building at the right time of the season.
“I guess if you’re going through the players available then it wouldn’t be far away (from being the best 22),” he said.
“We know that ‘Hanners’ still needs to get some form and fitness and ‘Shawy’ and ‘Tippo’ hopefully play some more footy as well.
“We’re starting to get some of those players back in the team, which is good and if (Franklin and Hannebery) are available this week then it would certainly be one of our stronger teams.”
In addition to players returning to the side, Longmire said the impressive form of some of the club’s younger players had also added to the strength of the side in the second half of the season.
The coach named Gary Rohan and Lewis Jetta, who played limited amounts of football in 2013 due to injury, as players who have stepped up and taken on important new roles for the Swans.
“Gary is a player that we’ve played a fair bit of our year in the reserves in defence for a number of different reasons,” Longmire said
“One was to get his match fitness up and also to get through some little niggles that he had early in the season and to also teach him another position on the ground.
“We’ve been able to expose him to the defence more and has been able to play better each week.
“He’s coming along OK at the moment and we’re quite pleased with how he’s going.”
Longmire said Jetta, who has spent more time in the midfield this year, has also had a great impact this season.
“He’s been contributing and he’s been a bit more midfield than what he’s done for a number of years and he’s been a good player,” Longmire said.
“Our structure’s changed over those last couple of years, which means his role has changed, but he’s given us that outside run and carry and his kicking has been good and his pressure skills.
“His knowledge of the game is of a really high standard for a younger player, so we’re pleased with how his season has gone.”
