Jesinta Franklin hints at post-footy life with Buddy

In the greatest hint yet that Jesinta and husband Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin are making plans for a future beyond football, the 30-year-old reveals what their post-AFL life might look like.

Jesinta Franklin has opened up on what life for her and her Sydney Swans star husband Buddy Franklin may look like after he hangs up his football boots.

In the greatest hint yet that the couple may be making plans for life beyond footy after Buddy scored his 1000th goal at the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier this year, Jesinta says that the couple have already discussed moving interstate and leaving Sydney behind.

While the Swans have expressed their desire to extend Buddy’s nine-year, $10 million contract which expires at the end of the year, Jesinta says in an exclusive interview on the cover of this weekend’s Body+Soul that the pair have long dreamt of life away from the city.

“I think there’s still a lot of good football left in him, but it’s our dream, whether that’s in five years or 10 years or whenever, to be able to live closer to one of the grandparents and have quality time with them,” Jesinta told Body+Soul.

Franklin endured long separations from the couple’s families in Western Australia and Queensland during Covid, coupled with raising children Tullulah, two and Rocky, one, while Buddy was away training in the Sydney Swans hub during the pandemic.

Jesinta Franklin: “Mother’s Day was something I’d dream about when I didn’t have children.” Picture: Steven Chee.

But she is grateful she has been able to become a mother at all, after her long struggle to have a baby.

After enduring multiple miscarriages, Jesinta, 30, and Buddy, 35, turned to IVF to try to conceive Tullulah, so they were surprised when she fell pregnant naturally with Rocky just five months after Tullulah was born.

Jesinta Franklin stars on the cover of this Sunday’s Body+Soul. Picture: Steven Chee

Jesinta Franklin on the cover of Body+Soul.

“Mother’s Day was something I’d dream about when I didn’t have children, not because of the presents or the celebration but just the fact of being a mum and to feel how special that was,” she tells Body+Soul.

“It’s a day that reminds you of what a miracle it is, whether it comes easily for you or it’s more of a challenge.”

Read the full story at bodyandsoul.com.au