‘One more’: Sydney Swans legend Lance Franklin signs one-year contract extension

After months of speculation, Sydney Swans legend Lance Franklin has finally made a decision on his future in the sport.

Lance Franklin celebrates as the final siren. Picture by Michael Klein

After months of speculation about his future in the sport, Sydney Swans legend Lance Franklin has signed a one-year contract extension with the AFL club.

The 35-year-old forward, who has played 340 AFL games and kicked 1047 goals since his debut in 2005, will represent Sydney next year despite reports of a potential move to the Brisbane Lions.

Watch every match prior to the AFL grand final Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

The Swans honoured sporting icon Michael Jordan by mimicking his famous press release from 1995, announcing Franklin’s deal via social media on Monday evening.

“The following statement was released today by Lance Franklin, via the Sydney Swans Football Club located in Sydney, NSW, Australia, in response to questions about his future career plans,” the statement read.

“One more.”

"One more."#Bloodspic.twitter.com/tK5K6AZIvb

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) September 19, 2022

We now break into the queen’s funeral to announce Buddy Franklin’s contract extension.

— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) September 19, 2022

Franklin, who joined the Swans from the Hawthorn Hawks in 2014 on a monster nine-year deal worth $10 million, officially put contract talks on hold in August.

“At this stage conversations have been paused around my contract so I can put all my focus on playing footy,” Franklin said in a statement last month.

“No further comment will be made until the season is done and I have decided about my future.

“I am still undecided and need time after the season to make a family decision about whether I continue to play next year.”

While he has been injury prone in recent years, the scenes of fans flooding onto the SCG when the eight-time All-Australian kicked his 1000th career goal showed he is still one of the sport’s biggest drawcards.

No other player from the 2004 draft remains on an AFL list.

Franklin has booted 52 goals from 22 matches this season, including two majors and a crucial mark in the dying stages of Saturday’s thrilling one-point victory over Collingwood in the preliminary final at the SCG.

“He was winning contest after contest and he was chasing,” Sydney coach John Longmire told reporters after the win.

“He was up and going, the big ‘Bud’. I thought he gave us a lot of energy.”

Lance Franklin of the Swans. Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The Geelong Cats and Sydney Swans will face off in the AFL grand final on Saturday afternoon, with kick-off scheduled at the MCG for 2.30pm AEST.

It will be Franklin’s sixth grand final appearance, having won two premierships with Hawthorn in 2008 and 2013.

Franklin currently sits behind Doug Wade (1057), Jason Dunstall (1254), Gordon Coventry (1299) and Tony Lockett (1360) on the all-time VFL/AFL goalkicker list.

He needs four majors on Saturday to equal Dunstall’s 78 goals in finals, which is second behind Coventry’s 111.