Isaac Heeney says Sydney’s forward line has evolved and Lance Franklin is now a bonus
Ben Horne
The Daily Telegraph, May 1 
Swans star Isaac Heeney says Sydney has turned a massive corner in its premiership campaign and declared Lance Franklin’s presence is now a bonus rather than a make-or-break necessity.
Heeney said Sydney’s gutsy band of small men laid down a blueprint in last week’s stellar road win over Geelong the Swans can follow even when Franklin is back in their midst.
Clearly the injured Franklin is one of the most influential match-winners in the AFL when fit, but in the past have suffered when the big man has been virtually their only target inside 50.
Superstar forward Franklin has been ruled out for a second straight week with a bruise heel, but Sydney are preparing to tackle North Melbourne at the SCG on Saturday with all the confidence of a team that has no fear.
Dynamo and gun marker Heeney has been at the forefront of Sydney’s small-forward revolution.
“The smaller forward line is giving us other options to explore kicking goals,” said Heeney.
“Without Buddy (Franklin) and Reid, the two talls, we need us little fellas to create a contest and bring the ball to ground and go to work.
“You look at the younger fellas like Robbie Fox, Oliver Florent and Ben Ronke and they all kicked a couple of goals each.
“The win over Geelong shows sometimes we don’t need him and we can kick goals other ways.
“The younger fellas are standing up and it shows the depth in our team and for those boys to kick goals is very important.”
Roos too soon for Franklin but Swans ace in frame to face Hawks next week
Andrew Wu
SMH, May 2
Sydney is eyeing a return next week for Lance Franklin as confidence grows within the Swans camp that they can prosper without their superstar forward.
The club has also revealed All Australian midfielder Dan Hannebery played through last year with the debilitating osteitis pubis. He is also expected to push for selection against bitter rival Hawthorn on Friday week.
The Swans have given their first timeline on when Franklin will be back from his bruised heel. He was in "considerable pain" last week, the Swans have said, but has improved this week to the point they are holding out hope he can play his former club next round.
Whether he does, however, will depend on how much training he can complete next week. The Swans do not want Franklin to get into a cycle where he struggles to train in between games, as he had been after first suffering the injury in the club's match against West Coast at Optus Stadium in round one.
Blakey’s choice: Swans, Lions or Kangas?
Callum Twomey
AFL.com.au, May 1
STAR junior Nick Blakey has chosen Sydney as his preferred destination at the end of this year, with the Swans winning out over North Melbourne and Brisbane.
Blakey, the son of former Fitzroy and North star John, could have joined the Lions or Roos as a father-son pick at this year's draft.
But he is also eligible to join the Swans as an Academy player, a choice AFL.com.au has confirmed he made last week when he informed clubs of his decision to go with the red and white.
John Blakey has been a long-time assistant coach with the Swans and his talented son is an avid Swans fan, having become close to a number of the young Sydney players in recent years.
The Swans were always clear favourites over the Roos and the Lions to nab the 196cm forward, who has kicked 12 goals in two games so far in the under-18 Academy series. He was rested from last week's match against the Northern Territory.
The 18-year-old sees himself as a midfielder in the future and has wowed recruiters with his excellent left-foot disposal.
The Roos can now focus on another father-son prospect who has to choose between three clubs, with premiership player Robert Scott's son Bailey eligible to join North and Geelong.
But he is also tied to Gold Coast through its Academy, and on the weekend had 22 disposals and kicked a goal for the Suns. Scott is a hard-working midfielder with neat skills.
