‘I’m done’: Swans coach spills beans on Buddy’s sad retirement phone call

Swans champion Lance Franklin was “devastated” after making the decision to never play professional football again.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 21: Callum Mills and Lance Franklin of the Swans celebrate following the round 23 AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium on August 21, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Sydney superstar Lance Franklin has made the decision to retire immediately.

John Longmire on Monday afternoon said during a press conference that Franklin was emotional when telling the Swans coach about his decision.

Franklin did not attend the press conference. The club says he will be taking time away with his family — wife Jesinta and their children Tallulah, born in 2020, and son Rocky, born in 2021.

The legendary goal-kicker was injured in the Swans’ weekend game against Essendon and looked devastated as he sat on the boundary.

Franklin told teammates of his decision on Monday morning.

The 36-year-old hinted only earlier this month that he was considering one final season in 2024, but that has changed dramatically following his calf injury.

Franklin was on Saturday subbed out of the game because of the early injury and it will sadly be his final act on the football field.

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Lance Franklin sang the Swans’ song one final time on Saturday after injuring his calf. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Thanks for the memories. Photo by Phil Hillyard.

Longmire revealed private details about how Franklin arrived at the decision after undergoing a calf scan on Sunday.

The premiership-winning coach said Franklin was told the injury would have resulted in him missing at least 6-8 weeks of football.

He said Franklin was worried it could end up being a 12-week injury because the key forward suffered a similar calf tear over the summer which ruled him out for three months of training.

“He rang me when I was sitting on the plane,” Longmire said during the press conference.

“He was pretty emotional and devastated that could be the way it’s finished. It certainly sounded like he’d made the call there and then. I said, ‘Sleep on it and we’ll get up and have a chat this morning’. I went to his place this morning. He said ‘I’m done’. I think the best way to do it is to call it now.”

Coach John Longmire and Lance Franklin. Photo Phil Hillyard.

Longmire earlier said Franklin was without doubt the “greatest forward of his generation.”

“He is an absolute freak of nature and we have been lucky enough to have front row seats to one of the best ever to play,” Longmire said.

“He is a massive competitor and a wonderful teammate. Lance is also an extremely private and humble champion, which makes him even more endearing to those who know him.

“After coming to the Swans as a 26-year-old in the prime of his life, he leaves as one of our most loved players to run out in the red and white.

“He is an out and out champion and we wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”

Franklin announced the decision without any fanfare.

Swans CEO Tom Harley said on Monday Franklin was an “icon” of the game “and will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play this game”.

“Lance has that rare ability to transcend footy and has brought so much joy to fans for more than a decade now,” he said.

“He is a champion and will leave a lasting legacy, not only at the Sydney Swans, but within the AFL and broader community.”

Jesinta revealed earlier this year her husband nearly quit at the end of the 2022 season.

Lance and Jesinta Franklin at the 2018 Brownlow Medal. Pic: Michael Klein

Lance and Jesinta Franklin. Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Franklin last year became just the sixth player in the history of the game to kick 1000 goals.

He played 182 games and booted 580 goals for Hawthorn, where he won two premierships.

Franklin then crossed to Sydney at the end of 2013 on a landmark nine-year, $10 million contract and has played 172 games in red and white, booting a further 486 goals.

The Herald Sun’s Mark Robinson reported recently Buddy was open-minded about his future following a solid three-week block of games, taking 16 marks and kicking seven goals while feeling much better physically.

The legendary goalkicker has been carefully managed throughout the season by the Swans, but his body was still unable to get him to the finish line of the 2023 season.

Franklin, who was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2004 AFL Draft, retires as an eight-time All-Australian.

He finished as a player that is in the conversation to be the greatest player of all time with four Coleman Medals, one Peter Crimmins Medal, six Hawthorn leading goal kicker awards and seven Sydney leading goal kicker awards.

Footy world reacts to Lance Franklin retirement

A dejected Buddy watches on from the boundary against Essendon on Saturday. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Lance Franklin is being celebrated as one of the greatest players in the modern era of Australian football.

Fox Footy’s Dwayne Russell on SEN described Franklin as “one of the greatest of the greats if not the greatest of the modern era”.

Football commentator Stephen Quartermain posted on Twitter: “Lance Franklin’s football career is over. Always sad when a champion retires. But let’s be grateful we got to watch his brilliance for almost two decades”.

One more time for the road.

Buddy v Hooker, 2010 🔥pic.twitter.com/fSYX9IbCyF

— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 31, 2023

The AFL Record’s Ashley Browne posted on Twitter Franklin will still be honoured in fitting fashion through to the end of the 2023 season.

“Buddy will get the rousing farewell reception he deserves at the SCG in round 24 and also at the Grand Final,” he posted.

“His departure didn’t sit well with some Hawks fans, but how good would a Hawthorn MCG tribute be as well? The club that made him great. So many memories.”

Channel 7’s Ryan Daniels posted Franklin had given football fans “roughly 11,374 ‘holy hell’ moments”.

“Lance Franklin is firmly in the conversation as the greatest player in the AFL era,” he posted.

ESPN’s Rohan Connolly wrote: “Wow. So it’s all over for Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin. What can you say? So gifted, so athletic, so many ridiculous, jaw-dropping highlights over such a long period. We’ve all just been privileged to be able to watch him do his thing. On behalf of AFL football, Buddy, thank you”.