Jesinta Franklin: ‘We always knew Sydney wasn’t the long term plan’

Fresh off husband Lance Franlkin retiring from the AFL, model Jesinta said her family is loving their new life on the Gold Coast after purchasing a $9 million mansion.

Jesinta Franklin opens up about “the next chapter” of her life after husband Buddy Franklin’s retirement. Photo: Jonathan Ng/The Daily Telegraph.

“We always knew Sydney wasn’t the long-term goal for us,” Jesinta Franklin has admitted, after returning to the Harbour City this week to host an event for watchmakers Longines and attend the Marie Claire Women of the Year awards.

“I feel like the best is yet to come,” Franklin, 32, told Confidential.

Her husband, Lance “Buddy” Franklin, retired from AFL in June, six months after the couple purchased their $9m Gold Coast mansion.

“It feels like for the first time in a long time we’ve found our true happy place, and a little bit more balance, although it hasn’t been long,” Franklin said.

Jesinta Franklin at Marrinawi Cove in Barangaroo. Picture: Jonathan Ng.

Franklin at the Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images.

“Footy consumes a lot of time and energy in our year – eight to nine months in a year dedicated to the footy season,” she said.

The model and mum of two said the last year has been “a bit of a holding pattern,” with rumours of Buddy’s retirement swirling since September 2022, when he hadn’t at that point resigned his contract with the Sydney Swans.

Lance Franklin farewells the crowd with his wife Jesinta and children during a lap of honour at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Photo by Matt King/Getty.

The Miss Universe Australia-turned-model, 32, and former Swans athlete, 36, purchased their “dream” seven-bedroom property just days after they listed their Rose Bay home in Sydney last December.

She made no secret of her desire to return to live in her hometown with their kids Rocky, 2, and Tullulah, 3. Although we may now see more of Jesinta, with her time freed up to get back into the modelling and ambassadorship circuit.

Just last year, the model mum became the new face of Seafolly, with a deal to internationally front the brand in the US, through Europe, Asia and of course at home in Australia with billboards, magazine editorial and store signage.

“It’s so nice now having more time with the children and obviously for me to have more support from Bud. He’s always supportive, but he’s got more time so I can come down to things in Sydney and relax knowing dad’s at home holding the fort down,” she added.

Franklin MC’d an invite-only cocktail party for Swiss watchmaker Longines on Wednesday night. As a longtime friend of the brand, she hosted 100 of Sydney’s socialites, including model Georgia Fowler, tennis player Dylan Alcott, Angela Bishop and Erin Holland, to launch a new collection with Australian Indigenous artist Otis Hope Carey.

Otis Hope Carey and Jesinta Franklin. Picture: Jonathan Ng.

“To now have time free to pursue new chapters of our lives and goals feels really, really exciting,” Franklin said.

“I’m still able to follow my own dreams and goals in my career. It means I can pop down to Sydney and host a beautiful event, and still be a part of this world, but able to retreat home to our sanctuary when I’m done.”

The Franklins’ “sanctuary” is cantilevered out from the Hinterland hillside, with distinctive arches and uninterrupted views, as well as a parents’ retreat with a vaulted passageway to the ensuite and dressing room, a games room with a bar, swimming pool with a swim-up bar and podium, and a separate two-bedroom residence.

“It’s what we’ve been working towards, so it feels nice that everything has fallen into place.”