Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin farewelled in emotional tribute at Sydney Cricket Ground

Buddy Franklin has been farewelled in a heartwarming tribute at the SCG by a sellout crowd of the Swans faithful.

Lance Franklin of the Swans poses for a photo with his wife Jesinta Franklin and children during a lap of honour during the round 24 AFL match between Sydney Swans and Melbourne Demons at Sydney Cricket Ground. (Photo by Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin has been farewelled in front of a sellout crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as the nation comes to terms with the departure of the greatest player it has seen in the 21st century.

Franklin, a 354-game champion who kicked 1066 goals in a career spanning almost two decades, retired after a calf injury sustained against Essendon in July, and has since taken time away from the game.

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He was seen in the stands sipping champagne alongside friend and fellow Swans legend, Michael O’Loughlin, as his Swans headed to the major break against Melbourne trailing by eight points.

Franklin was emotional as he took in the cheers of an adoring Sydney crowd with his family. (Photo by Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Fans left messages on a mural for Lance Franklin at Swans HQ. Photo by Phil Hillyard

On a signature sunny Sydney winter afternoon, Franklin did a lap of the SCG with wife Jesinta and children Rocky and Tallulah in tow, as fans clamoured, as they did a year prior when he kicked his 1000th career goal at the same ground, to reach out and touch greatness.

Alongside the lap of honour, fans were invited to leave messages on a mural near the Swans headquarters.

Franklin wiped away tears as he took in the cheers of an adoring crowd, Foo Fighters’ “My Hero” blaring over the SCG speakers.

Thanks for everything, Buddy ❤️#AFLSwansDeespic.twitter.com/weZPTPq0HS

— AFL (@AFL) August 27, 2023

Asked by former Hawthorn teammate Shaun Burgoyne whether he ever imagined the heights his career would scale as possibly the most significant figure in the league’s modern history, “Buddy” was emotional in reply.

“Probably not, probably not, coming from the bush in Western Australia,” Franklin replied.

“I probably never thought this was possible. To play 19 years at two great clubs, I‘m incredibly proud.”

Asked what he would miss most, Franklin said: “I think (I’ll miss) the banter in the changerooms. You know me. That day-to-day stuff, that‘s what I’ll miss the most.

“Competing, being out here, just playing footy. I’m going to miss that.”

Franklin was on hand for high-fives all around the SCG. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Franklin won two premierships with Hawthorn before moving to Sydney in 2014.

Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon was glowing in reflection of the impact Franklin had on an entire generation, in large part single-handedly bringing the indigenous code to Australia’s most populous state.

“One of the big moments of the year. Buddy Franklin, who retired and will go into the Hall of Fame as a Legend I imagine, is doing a lap of honour at the SCG,” Lyon said.

Lyon, alongside co-host Jonathan Brown, noted how fiercely private Franklin was in the face of his public persona.

”This is a very private man,” Lyon said.

”I didn‘t think we’d see a tear out of him Gaz,” said Brown.

“He’s a really humble man, which is hard to say when he’s the biggest rock star we’ve seen in a couple of decades.

”He didn’t want to make a fuss, he didn’t want to make it about him, he announced his retirement early.

”He even had to be talked into doing this.”

Franklin inspired iconic scenes at the Telstra Dome in 2008 after kicking 100 goals for the season.

Franklin departs the game as a champion, winning two premierships with Hawthorn alongside four Coleman medals, eight All-Australian selections, a Peter Crimmins Medal and an eternal legacy.

He is responsible for some of the most iconic scenes in recent memory, inspiring multiple pitch invasions over the course of his career.

In 2008, after kicking his 100th goal for the season against Carlton, crowds at the Telstra Dome mobbed Franklin, and the scenes were replicated in 2022 when he became just the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to kick 1000 goals, slotting a set shot against Geelong.

Drafted in 2004 as the fifth pick in the draft, Franklin leaves the game as possibly the last true key forward, with the game having changed significantly since his career to move away from single key talls.