Sydney coach John Longmire has warned against comparing Lance Franklin's bump to others from round one as the veteran prepares to miss what was likely his last chance to play against former side Hawthorn.
Franklin will miss Sunday's home game against the Hawks after the Swans accepted a one-match ban for his high bump on Sam Collins.
The incident occurred in the final quarter of the Swans' 49-point win over Gold Coast, when a flying Franklin struck Collins with his shoulder as the Suns defender bent to pick up the ball.
"(Franklin's) initial thought was it was a bounce that went the wrong way, and both he and Collins adjusted to that. Then he braced for contact rather than bent down," Longmire explained.
The veteran forward wasn't the only player to attract scrutiny for a bump over the weekend.
The AFL has banned Melbourne's Kysaiah Pickett for two games after he collected Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith high, while Adelaide forward Shane McAdam received a three-match suspension for his hit on GWS' Jacob Wehr.
The Crows have since indicated they will appeal the sanction.
Pundits have been quick to make the link between the high shots and recent class action suits levelled at the AFL by ex-players, who are seeking compensation for "cognitive impairment" allegedly suffered as a result of repeated concussions.
With the AFL tougher on high contact than ever before, Longmire said it was important people judged the three bumps individually.
The match review officer categorised all three as careless conduct and high contact but deemed Franklin's medium impact, Pickett's high and McAdam's severe.
"Once you throw them all into the one bucket I think it can be a bit misleading," Longmire said.
"They're all a bit different. (Franklin's) was certainly different to the other bumps on the weekend.
"We support the fact that the head needs protection.
"The education that the players get in that regard is really strong.
"We accept the one-week (suspension) and move on."
The Swans' first game at the SCG this season was also set to be Franklin's last against Hawthorn, the club where he won two premierships before moving to Sydney in 2014.
Franklin could conceivably meet his old side in the finals but bookmakers have the Hawks around $15 to play September football in Sam Mitchell's second season at the helm.
But Longmire dismissed suggestions Franklin would be especially disappointed to miss the last hurrah against the side who drafted him in the spring of 2004.
"I just think he's disappointed not playing," he said.
"Ultimately, he likes to compete and get out there and test himself.
"He plays the game as a competitor and unfortunately misses the game against the Hawks."
The Swans are still determining who will replace Franklin but Sam Reid is again unavailable with a glute injury.
"Whether we go a bit smaller or whether we bring in a Joel Amartey-type player, we're working through that," Longmire said.
