'I wouldn't write him off': Clarkson tips Franklin to bounce back

Four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson says Lance Franklin's AFL career is far from over despite the Sydney Swans star suffering another serious injury.

The experienced Sydney forward could miss more than half the season after damaging his right hamstring during training on Wednesday.

Franklin, 33, sat out nine matches in 2019 due to issues with his left hamstring.

The four-time Coleman medallist is in the seventh season of a monster nine-year, $10 million deal that saw him leave Hawthorn for the Swans at the end of 2013.

But his former coach at the Hawks is confident Franklin will bounce back from his latest setback.

"I wouldn't write him off by any means," Clarkson said. "[Franklin's] had the best part of 12 months now where it's been tough for him but I know him very well as a person.

"He's made fantastic contributions to both the Hawthorn and Sydney footy clubs. He's a long way from finishing up.

"He's been such a durable bugger for a long, long period of time at both of our clubs. He'll be doing it tough at the minute but he'll find a way and play some footy again."

Franklin, an eight-time All-Australian, will not be able to resume running for up to four weeks. The Swans said his latest injury was worse than the one he dealt with in 2019.

He needs 56 more goals to join Tony Lockett, Gordon Coventry, Jason Dunstall, Doug Wade and Gary Ablett snr by becoming the sixth player to reach the magical 1000-goal mark in VFL/AFL history.

AAP