Revealed: Hawthorn read out the wrong Franklin at 2004 AFL draft

THE 2004 draft set up a Hawthorn dynasty but it was almost very different. Recruiter Gary Buckenara reveals the moment a Gippsland teenager named Luke Franklin lived his draft dream — for about 10 seconds.

THE 2004 AFL national draft was one that shaped Hawthorn’s future in a very positive way, but for a dozen odd seconds there were some very nervous brown and gold officials.

It all came about after the ruler of Hawks’ recruiting boss Gary Buckenara slipped as he prepared to read out his selection for pick No.5.

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“I really liked Richard Tambling as a player and he had spent a weekend at my place prior to the draft, but I did become very excited when Richmond took him at four, meaning Buddy was still available,” Buckenara said this week.

“In my excitement the ruler slipped down one line and I called out the number for Luke Franklin from Gippsland Power.

Luke Franklin (left) and Lance Franklin were in the same draft year

“Of course his name was typed in and up it went, causing a bit of a murmur in the room before I realised what I’d done. So for a few seconds Luke Franklin was a Hawthorn player and a pick five.”

Luke Franklin never did get drafted, plying his trade in spectacular fashion with home club Morwell before moving to Lang Lang where he was named in its team of decade from 2001-10. Attempts to contact him were unsuccessful, with Gippsland locals saying he hadn’t been seen in the area for a few years and they thought he’d moved north to Queensland.

Originally published as Revealed: Hawthorn read out the wrong Franklin at 2004 AFL draft