AFL 2023: Lance Franklin emotional retirement announcement, greatest career moments

Lance Franklin said goodbye to his teammates and AFL footy on Monday after almost two incredible decades. See how it played out and relive his biggest highlights.

Lance Franklin of the Swans kicks at goal. Picture: Michael Klein.

Will we ever see the likes of Buddy again?

After almost two decades of dazzling highlights, Lance Franklin has announced his retirement.

From the big hauls to the logic defying goals and more magic moments, here are Buddy’s 23 greatest moments on the AFL stage.

1. Second career goal against Richmond – round 2, 2005

It didn’t take long to get a glimpse of the brilliance of Franklin. In just his second AFL match, Franklin received the ball, charged for the left pocket and kicked a beautiful goal with the left-to-right bend we’ve come to know and love. It would be the first of many goals from Franklin from a similar angle.

2. A precursor to the goals of the year – round 21, 2005

It was easily the best goal of his rookie year and eerily similar to his famous goals outrunning Cale Hooker and Daniel Talia. Franklin received the ball outside 50, turned sharply and ran towards goal before yet again kicking a miraculous goal from a left-footer’s unfavoured pocket.

3. Matchwinner against Adelaide in the Elimination Final – 2007

The 2007 elimination final against Adelaide remains near the top of the list for clutch Franklin moments. With only seconds left to go, Franklin took a strong running mark and slotted the matchwinning goal – his seventh of the day, at age 20 – from a tough angle and 50m out to give the Hawks the win.

4 Makes the impossible look easy against the Lions – round 19 2008

Franklin had a habit of making the impossible look easy and that was exactly what happened against the Lions in 2008. He shrugged two tackles, pivoted to his favoured left foot and kicked his sixth goal of the match. The commentators were lost for words and so were the fans watching from home.

5. Kicks his 100th goal in a season – round 22 2008

Only Franklin could give people multiple reasons to run onto the field and swarm him. Buddy remains the most recent player to kick 100 goals in a season after reaching the ton in 2008. The moment he brought up the milestone against Carlton is another highlight that will go down in history.

6. Two goals against Essendon in 2010 – round 13, 2010

Franklin’s athleticism has always been a hallmark of his ability and no moment showed that better than his two goals against Essendon in 2010. Both Mark McVeigh and Cale Hooker were left in his dust as he sprinted down the wing and kicked goals from the most unlikely of angles.

7. Shake and bake against the Bulldogs – round 23, 2011

Early in the round 23, 2011 clash against the Bulldogs, Franklin decided it was time to make the MCG his own. He gathered the ball running away from goal, shook one tackle, sold some candy and then launched it more than 50m while being tackled for another incredible goal.

8. ‘He’s kicked a miracle’ – 2011 prelim

Four minutes to go in a preliminary final with the Hawks down by two points. The loose ball tumbles towards Franklin and he pushes it further to the pocket. On his weaker side, he’s forced to gather and kick a grubber banana that never looked like missing. The man was made for the big stage.

9. 13 goals against North Melbourne – round 10, 2012

Thirteen. THIRTEEN! It’s the lasting commentary to the biggest bag of Franklin’s career. His 13-goal haul against North Melbourne in Launceston in 2012 is one of the most remarkable individual performances this decade. And it took until the very dying seconds of that game for the final of his 13 goals to sail through the posts.

Lance Franklin boots goal number 13 against the Kangaroos in 2012. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

10. The goal against Sydney in the 2012 grand final

A man for the big moment, Franklin did his best to help lead the Hawks to grand final glory in 2012. Nothing showed that more than his remarkable third-quarter goal from 60m out off two steps that landed perfectly on the goal line. “Has it got the carry, I think so!” said Dennis Cometti.

11. Jumping over the Collingwood player – round 3, 2013

The 2013 goal of the year in Franklin’s locker remains one of the greatest goals the MCG has ever seen. Receiving the ball at the centre circle, Franklin immediately hurdled a Pies player lying on the turf before launching towards the goal from more than 70m. Only Franklin could have kicked that goal.

12. First game for Sydney against the Hawks – round 8, 2014

After his much-publicised move to Sydney, Franklin first came up against the Hawks in round 8 of 2014. It looked like it would be Hawthorn who came away with the win after Franklin kicked seven behinds across the first three quarters. However, two goals in the final term from Sydney’s new superstar led them to victory.

13. That magic twilight against Port Adelaide – round 13, 2014

The first season after his shock move to Sydney was always going to draw attention but the moment Swans fans realised what they had in front of them was a twilight Saturday afternoon against Port Adelaide in 2014. Franklin took to the SCG with a five-goal haul that included two goal of the year contenders in the final quarter to lead his side to victory.

14. 200th career game against St Kilda and nine goals – round 21, 2014

Franklin was on cloud nine in his 200th career game back in 2014 after kicking nine goals against a hapless St Kilda. At that point, it was his biggest haul in a Swans jersey and showed he was already endearing himself to the SCG faithful.

15. Playing for Goodesy – Round 18, 2015

The round 18 clash in 2015 against the Crows was an emotional one for the Swans as they paid tribute to Adam Goodes as he was being booed by opposition fans. The SCG came together and Franklin wouldn’t miss out on the celebrations as he played through injury to kick three goals and help guide Sydney to victory.

16. Eight against Brisbane to snap losing streak in round 7, 2017

When Sydney were sitting 0-6 through the first six round of 2017, it left many shocked after they had made it to the 2016 grand final. Franklin decided it was time to step up from the front, kicking eight goals against the Lions to snap the streak and get the ball rolling as they miraculously forced its way into the top eight by season’s end.

17. The goal from centre square against Hawthorn MCG – round 9, 2016

Franklin was never one to shy away from a big stage and that’s what every Sydney-Hawthorn clash was in the 2010s. None more than their round 9, 2016 clash at the MCG. He rose to the occasion with a goal from almost 80m out as the Swans secured an important victory.

18. Entering the top 10 goal scorers of all time – round 9, 2017

The 818th goal of Franklin’s career was an important one as he entered the top 10 VFL/AFL goalkickers of all time. It was a night of celebration against St Kilda as he overtook Bernie Quinlan.

19. Tries to recreate goal of the year at Adelaide Oval – round 22, 2017

It should have been the goal of the year but it was an all too familiar sight from Franklin. Running down the wing of Adelaide Oval with Daniel Talia agonisingly out of reach, he took some unconvincing bounces and slotted the goal from an unlikely angle. Cale Hooker knows the feeling all too well.

Lance Franklin after kicking his 10th goal against Carlton in round 23, 2017. Picture: AAP Image/David Moir

20. 10-goal haul against Carlton at the SCG – round 23, 2017

The biggest bag Franklin kicked during his time in Sydney was 10 goals against Carlton in 2017. It was another masterclass with the Swans on a remarkable run to finals after their 0-6 start. It secured the superstar’s fourth Coleman Medal in the final round of the season.

21. Opens Optus Stadium with a bang – round 1, 2018

The opening game at Optus Stadium was always set to be an extravagant affair but Franklin saved one of his best performances for his home state. He ended up kicking eight goals against the Eagles, no mean feat against the team that would go on to win the premiership that year.

22. Buddy asserts himself on the Sydney Derby – round 3, 2018

Franklin knows to lift when the pressure is on and the Sydney Derby was the time for the greatest showman to arrive. In the 2018 clash, Franklin turned it on in the final quarter, including a goal where he shrugged off Nick Haynes, turned and slotted it calmly from 65m out.

23. 1000th goal at the SCG – round 2, 2022

No Buddy list can start without recognising the incredible milestone of passing 1000 goals at VFL/AFL level. That legendary night against Geelong at the SCG will go down in history and it’s unlikely we’ll see scenes like that again with fans storming the field as the ball sailed through the posts. For most, it will be the defining moment of his time in Sydney.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Lance Franklin emotional retirement announcement, greatest career moments