Player Watch 23. Lance Franklin

[A Diakos]

Thanks for the memories Judas


good luck in the next phase of life

 

[Billyc]

The 23 biggest and best goals of Buddy Franklin's career

Ahead of Lance Franklin's 300th game in 2020, we celebrated with a countdown of his best ever goals

www.afl.com.au

Won’t see this again. One of a kind.

 

[hawker11]

Pleased he finished with more games and more goals at Hawthorn, and 0 premierships at Sydney.

 

[natio]

I ended up being Buddy play his very first and last game. My mate (swans supporter) and I went to the Swans v Essendon game on Saturday night to see Buddy one last time.

By coincidence, we actually also were at his first game against the Swans in rnd 1 2005 at the SCG.

Watching his highlights today actually made me laugh like how dermie laughs with joy when watching Rivoli.

 

[The Chad and I]

His best was with us at Hawthorn.
Not one goal he kicked with Sydney comes close to his top 10 with Hawthorn, maybe even top 20-30.

Everything he did there was hyped up to be more than it was because it was Good For The Game™

 

[OnWardnUpWard]

Pure joy. That’s what Buddy gave us. Will forever be grateful. Go well Lance.

 

[Pinoy Hawk]

 

[MasterSamurai]

Could watch for hours . İt was a different game he was playing than the rest!

 

[triangulation_squared]

An end of an era.

Always wanted to see Bud come back and play one more season to bookend it.

Wingard Brockman Watson
Breust Lewis Franklin

In a parallel universe we see this 6 run out in round 1 2024.

Roughead, Franklin and Jordan Lewis

Jordan Lewis

Age

38

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.5

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

11.5

5star

M

5.5

5star

T

2.7

4star

MG

310.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

15.0

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.8

5star

in a single draft... thanks for the memories!

Wishing Lance and his family all of the best for an even more successful post playing professional career after all of the joy he has brought us.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Jesus some supporters on this board need to get a grip and move on.

If your partner lived interstate and you had the opportunity to move, would you?
If you got hounded every day by media (and Police) and had an opportunity to move, would you?
If your coach stalked you across the Pacific Ocean trying to convince you to stay and you had the opportunity to move, would you?

The older I get. The more I understand Buddy's move.

And PS. We offered him millions as well. 5 of them over 5 years.

Buddy clearly has zero issues with Clarko, as Clarko is in the retirement photos. I think the media made this bigger than it actually was at the time.

My past gripe with Buddy at the time, he snobbed the PCM and this didnt allow him or his fans a good bye.

An his " i am leaving for priemierships statement", as if he was the Robert Harvey of Hawthorn and had never one a GF. I am leaving for love would of felt so much better.... as a fan.

I am more pissed at the AFL for allowing an unrealistic contract. An one of the greatest players was only worth pick 19 #fo

An my hate for the swans will continue as they rort the system. An there greed banking on one player cost them players and a premiership i feel.

I wished buddy as an individual at the Swans all the best.

An we can celebrate the TWOX premiership Hawk legend in retirement. An i wish him and his family all the best with life after a playing career.

 

[Hawthorn1971]

Pleased he finished with more games and more goals at Hawthorn, and 0 premierships at Sydney.

Hawthorn always comes first, so in the cold light of day, this was the only outcome we could wish for.

 

[lethalselbow]

Sad to see him go. Been an absolute legend at Hawthorn and Swans. Couldn't help but barrack for Sydney, cause of him, when they played anyone bar us.

Absolute jet of a player. One of my faves, after Cyril.

A beer or two will required to watch this video soon... well the first half of it anyway.

 

[MC_9]

All the best Bud. One of the all time greats, and a privilege to watch him in the brown and gold.

His elimination final in 07, all of his 08, especially the final against Lake and the dogs. Absolutely brilliant.

Is still one of my all time favourite players, and was gutted when we went to the Swann's. But never stopped loving watching him play.

Just quietly, looking back at our 2013 forward line would have to be one of the very best ever.

Gunston - Franklin - Bruest
Rioli - Roughead - Puopulo

Over 3,000 goals between them, 5 All Australians, 2 x Coleman medalists, 4 x Hawthorn leading goal kickers, 3 x PCM, 1 x Norm smith. Unbelievable.

 

[smish]

Never won a flag there. That's all that matters.

Poetic justice.

 

[Billyc]

Could watch for hours . İt was a different game he was playing than the rest!

One of the great descriptors I recall was going to a Hawthorn Collingwood night game at the G. I think it was in 2008 and I brought a friend from France to her first ever AFL game and she was obsessed with just watching Buddy, describing it like watching a man play against children. It felt like that when he was on. He couldn't be stopped. That highlights package I posted a few posts ago of his top 23 is extraordinary and even off the top of my head I can recall plenty of great ones that didn't make the cut.

 

[Franko Armani]

Gave me chills re-reading this thread from the beginning and remembering end of 2007 and the 2008 season so clearly.

Buddy had a season like nobody before him, like no one had ever seen. They hype was real and Buddy mania took Melbourne by storm. The things he did that year and the sheer amount of shots he had on goal each game was phenomenal.

So lucky to be a Hawk supporter on that journey, riding the highs of our young talented side all throughout 2008 before knocking off the Cats in the GF. Couldn’t beat that for peak footy!

Buddy was amazing. A legend.

 

[MatteeG]

Cheers Buddy! Could be exhilarating, exciting, frustrating and jaw droppingly brilliant in the same game, even the same quarter.

A superstar with ability we are unlikely to see again. Champion.

 

[Sixpence]

Sad to see him go. Been an absolute legend at Hawthorn and Swans. Couldn't help but barrack for Sydney, cause of him, when they played anyone bar us.

Absolute jet of a player. One of my faves, after Cyril.

A beer or two will required to watch this video soon... well the first half of it anyway.

Just watched his first year. Can't recall a single other key forward kick goals like that in their first year!

 

[Hawk88]

Was there for his "13" and those "Essendon goals"

Will remember each fondly

 

[Manila_Hawk]

I agree with one of the other posters..... when he went to Sydney, he bulked up too much.

At the Hawks he ran like a gazelle...

 

[Yardie]

Pleased he finished with more games and more goals at Hawthorn, and 0 premierships at Sydney.

Sydney friend said to me today that he played more years and got paid more money at Sydney.....

 

[Liverbird]

Was at EF in 07 when he beat the Crows
Was at QF 08 when he ripped Lake / Dogs
Was at multiple Woods games he carved em up
Was on wing Vs Bombers for his 2 wonder goals
Celebrated 08 and 13 GFs when he played his role

The man is a Hawks legend and one of the top 3 players for pure talent and x-factor I will ever see.

Wishing him and his family all the best in future.

A star that doesn't crave the bright lights any more. He has matured from a boy to a man before our eyes

 

[Coathanger]

Sydney friend said to me today that he played more years and got paid more money at Sydney.....

There's your problem... Who has friends from Sydney?

 

[Sixpence]

Sydney friend said to me today that he played more years and got paid more money at Sydney.....

That just means we got far better value for money!

 

[Dewnior]

Fittingly he finishes in 23rd spot overall for average goals per game with an average of 3.0