Fit-again Gibson eyes AFL clash with Buddy

Josh Gibson has overcome a torn pectoral muscle and could line up on good friend Lance Franklin in the AFL blockbuster between Sydney and Hawthorn.

Josh Gibson plays.

Josh Gibson has overcome a torn pectoral muscle ready for Saturday's AFL blockbuster with Sydney. (AAP)

As an AFL defender, there is arguably no greater challenge than manning Sydney superstar Lance Franklin.

Except maybe being asked to curb Franklin's influence in your first game back after 11 weeks on the sidelines due to injury.

That is the scenario Hawthorn's Josh Gibson is likely to face this week, having recovered from a torn pectoral muscle he suffered when the two sides clashed in round eight.

Jarryd Roughead suggested on Monday that Gibson would be right to go for Saturday night's blockbuster at the MCG.

And Roughead expects there will be no sense of trepidation from Gibson in his comeback match, despite the purple patch that good friend Franklin is enjoying.

"He trained really well on Saturday ... no doubt (Gibson would be capable of taking Franklin)," Roughead said.

"If you guys had watched Gibbo the past few weeks at training, he's definitely got that competitive edge back and he's not sore.

"He's one of those blokes that always enjoys the big challenges."

The Swans' nine-year contract for Franklin worth $10 million was still being widely and routinely questioned when the 27-year-old first squared off against the club with whom he won two premierships.

Now, Franklin has firmed in both Coleman and Brownlow medal betting and the Swans are chasing a club-record 13th straight win.

Roughead was happy that former teammate Franklin was performing so well for the premiership favourites.

"A lot of people wrote him off and said that he was probably past his best footy," Roughead said of Franklin, who has averaged four goals a game in his past eight starts.

"It's good to see him marking the ball and kicking some goals."

Roughead believed every one of his teammates would need to handle some of the responsibility for stopping Franklin - not just Gibson.

"If you can put a lot of pressure on the mids kicking the ball to him then it makes ... it a lot easier," he said.

Speedster Bradley Hill is also in line to return from a knee injury in a clash that could shape not just the top four, but the top two.

"I dare say he'll be right," Roughead said of Hill.

Roughead will play his 200th match on the weekend.

The 27-year-old, taken by the Hawks in the 2004 draft alongside Franklin and midfielder Jordan Lewis, described the milestone as a good achievement.

But Roughead quickly added he was far more interested in potentially claiming top spot on the ladder with a win over the Swans.


Share

3 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world