Swans react after City of Sydney rejects Buddy mural proposal

The Swans have reacted strongly after plans for a tribute to retired great Buddy Franklin were rejected by the City of Sydney.

An image of the proposed Buddy Franklin mural in Surry Hills, Sydney.

The Sydney Swans have expressed their disappointment after a planned mural for retired champion Lance “Buddy” Franklin was rejected by the City of Sydney.

Franklin retired this past season after 354 games and 1066 goals in the AFL with Hawthorn and the Swans.

The planned $5000 mural was going to commemorate his 1000th goal, The Daily Telegraph reports, a mark he reached in a famous moment at the SCG in round two, 2022 against Geelong.

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Franklin shares the four-figure goalkicking milestone with just five other players in league history, including another former Swan, Tony Lockett.

A number of murals can already be found across Sydney, including ones of Adam Goodes and a number of Sydney Roosters greats.

An image of the proposed Buddy Franklin mural in Surry Hills, Sydney.

The Franklin image was planned for a blank wall on the side of a three-storey house in Surry Hills, at the intersection of South Dowling and Fitzroy Streets, right on the border of the Moore Park complex and a short walk from the SCG.

Plans were lodged earlier this year, but it was rejected by the City of Sydney council, which labelled the proposal “unsympathetic” to the local streetscape and stated it could have “adverse impacts” on the surrounding heritage conservation area.

“The development has not demonstrated design excellence (and) is considered to be an advertisement,” the finding stated.

“As such, the development is prohibited.”

The iconic moment Franklin kicked his 1000th career goal. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Franklin, one of the Swans’ most popular players ever, retired at the end of last season. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Unsurprisingly, the Swans are far from pleased by the decision to deny a tribute to one of the Swans’ best players and an athlete beloved by most sports fans across the city.

“While the Sydney Swans respect the council’s decision it’s a disappointing outcome,” a Sydney Swans spokeswoman said.

“We believe the mural would have made a wonderful contribution to the street art through Surry Hills.

“This mural was simply intended as a tribute to one of the greatest players we have seen.”

Advertising company Apparition Media had proposed the idea, with the image to show the moment the SCG was flooded with thousands of fans to celebrate Franklin’s rare milestone.

“It is this powerful image that we propose to bring to life in a public mural, thereby inspiring future generations and showcasing the extraordinary rewards of hard work and perseverance,” the plans stated.

The location of the proposed Buddy Franklin mural in Surry Hills, Sydney.

“Given the site’s proximity to Moore Park and the Sydney Swans’ home ground, the proposed mural is appropriate and relevant as Sydney AFL supporters will often travel past it.”

Jordan Horsell, who runs a Swans Supporters page on Facebook, said he was shocked by the council’s refusal.

“I think the fans would have loved it and it would have added to the game experience,” he said.

“It would have been a great artwork.”

The council’s decision comes after mixed feedback about the mural was raised in submissions from Surry Hills residents with one local saying: “Why on earth do we need yet more giant murals of male sportsmen?”