Lance Franklin will become the highest profile player the Border has ever seen in action when he lines up for the Sydney Swans in Sunday night’s JLT Community Series match against St Kilda at Lavington Oval.
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While the region has hosted the likes of James Hird, Steve Johnson, Scott West and Dustin Martin in the past 25 years, just to name a few, the talented Swans’ squad, spearheaded by Franklin, is a clear standout.
Sydney coach and Corowa export John Longmire has come to the party for local AFL fans by declaring Franklin will play his biggest minutes of the pre-season on Sunday.
After returning to the field for the first time since off-season shoulder surgery, Franklin booted two goals to help his side to victory in challenging conditions against GWS.
“He’ll probably get a bit more time this week and he had a good run at it last week,” Longmire said.
“We expect him to play at least that much this week or probably more.
“The game is a bit longer this week, so naturally with the last one all the players tend to get more minutes and it’s really important to practice under those genuine match-like conditions.”
On the local front, former-Albury based goal umpire Matthew Maclure has been appointed as one of the goal umpires for the clash.
Maclure returns to Lavington Oval for the first time since the 2007 Ovens and Murray grand final.
Since leaving Albury, Maclure has been a member of the VFL umpiring panel and was appointed to the 2016 VFL grand final.
Late last year he got the phone call that all umpires look forward to and was offered a contract to the AFL goal umpiring panel.
While on the VFL panel, Maclure umpired 95 senior VFL, 34 VFL Development and 25 TAC Cup matches.
Injury ruled him out of the 2013 and 2014 seasons, but he has worked hard the past two years and improved his fitness to be given an opportunity at AFL level in 2017.
“Matt has had a couple of set backs in the past few years, but the dedication he has put in over the last couple of years is a credit to him and we wish him all the best in 2017,” AFL NEB umpire manager Mark Bywater said.