Leigh Matthews says Buddy Franklin is ‘player of the century’

Leigh Matthews is one of the greatest AFL players and coaches and has made a bold call about where Buddy Franklin stands in the history of the game.

“He’s a player who has done the very good, very often and done the remarkable regularly." Photo: Getty Images

One of the greatest footballers and coaches of all-time Leigh Matthews has called Lance Franklin the “player of the century” ahead of his 350th AFL game.

Franklin will become just the 22nd player in AFL/VFL history to reach the milestone in Thursday night’s match between the Swans and St Kilda at the SCG.

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It’s yet another enormous milestone for one of the greatest players of the era, but Matthews argues he may just be the greatest, edging out Scott Pendlebury and Gary Ablett Jr. in the legend’s books.

It could be an enormous night for Franklin, who could also move into sole ownership of fourth on the all-time goalkicking rankings ahead of Doug Wade with his next major taking him to 1058 goals in his career.

Matthews, who knows a thing or two about greatness in the AFL as a four-time premiership winner as a player, four-time premiership winner as a coach and member of the AFL Team of the Century, told 3AW Franklin is the best in the modern era.

“I think this century, he’s the player of the century,” Matthews said.

“He’s been the common denominator of this century. I think longevity of elite performance is what you’re looking at. He’s played for 19 seasons, so he’s had the longevity, 350 games, 1000+ goals.

“He’s a player who has done the very good, very often and done the remarkable regularly. There is no one who you have gone to the footy to watch who has done the spectacular more than Buddy.

“But not only that, he’s been very good very often so I think he’s just had an incredible almost 20 years in the game. There are no players that played when he started so he’s been remarkable.”

No one will forget Buddy’s 1000th goal. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Host Sam McClure said Matthews had said similar about Scott Pendlebury recently and that he’d likely be in the same category.

But Matthews said Franklin stands alone.

“(Pendlebury) has played the very good very often but I don’t know whether he’s done the remarkable that often. He hasn’t done the spectacular as much as Buddy would have.

“Players can have great games and great seasons, we’re talking about a great career.

“We can forget about how dominant Gary Ablett Jr. was for his seven or eight years or a decade or so. He won that Player’s Association award about five years in a row.

“It just happens that Buddy’s probably going to be in his last year but you can look back on just the statistical — 1000+ goals in an era where goals are probably twice as valuable in the previous eras. He’s averaged three goals a game not playing as a Lockett, Hudson, Dunstall-type full forward, just as a running forward half player.”

Buddy belongs alongside Matthews. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Franklin debuted in 2005 and joined an elite club of 28 players to kick 100 goals in a season in 2008 when he booted 113 goals.

It’s now been 15 years since someone has joined the club and it was something the men ahead of him on the goalkicking list — Jason Dunstall (six times), Gordon Coventry (four) and Tony Lockett (six) — did regularly.

Now in his 19th season, including the 2020 season in which he didn’t play a game through injury, Franklin has proven himself over three decades.

But it seems time may finally be catching up with Franklin. He has just 10 goals in eight games in 2023, having not scored in three of his last four games.

And instead of a big celebration for what is shaping as the final milestone game of his illustrious career, Franklin has opted for a low-key week.

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph told Fox Footy’s On the Couch on Monday the Swans wanted him to do a press conference and one-on-one interviews, but said: “He’s not on board with the celebration tour”.

Buddy’s keeping it low key. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Instead he opted for a 13-minute interview with the Swans media and revealed what the milestone means to him.

“It’s a lot of games,” he laughed.

“It’s something I’m very proud of, there’s no doubt about that. To reach 350 games in AFL football is an enormous achievement.

“To play 50 games is a huge achievement, 100 games, 150. To become a life member at two footy clubs is something very special to me and I’m very proud of it.”

Franklin will be joined by his family for the milestone with wife Jesinta, children Tallulah and Rocky to be present but they won’t run onto the field with him.

While he said he didn’t want to talk about his future, Franklin said he wants to be remembered as “someone that had a crack … and just had fun”.

“That’s been the biggest thing throughout my journey is that I’ve kept things pretty simple and I think the key has been obviously that enjoyment part,” he said.

“That’s probably why I’ve lasted so long, because I keep things simple, go out there with a smile on my face and just enjoy it. Whether that’s training, whether that’s doing weights, pilates, just having fun and building strong relationships with everyone here.”