As Lance Franklin closes on 1000th goal, AFL prepares for fan invasion

Lance Franklin is on the cusp of becoming just the sixth AFL player to kick 1000 goals - but Covid will ensure it’s a very different celebration.

Lance Franklin joins training at the Sydney Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The AFL is finalising plans with Sydney and Accor Stadium management to protect Lance Franklin and his fellow players in the event of a ground invasion after he kicks his 1000th goal.

Sydney megastar Franklin needs five more goals to become only the sixth AFL player to hit that remarkable milestone.

The AFL confirmed to the Herald Sun it is working on a plan as it attempts to dissuade fans from running onto the ground.

While it might prove impossible, the league has warned there are heavy financial penalties for those that run on to AFL grounds.

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There is also a Covid consideration, with the AFL doing everything it can this season to socially distance players from the general public as the omicron strain spreads across Australia.

New Fox Footy commentator Eddie Betts joked on Sunday he was keen to run on to the ground if Franklin hits the milestone came when he is boundary-riding in Round 2.

The Swans take on cross-town rival GWS in Round 1 at the oval formerly known as Stadium Australia before playing Adelaide at the SCG in Round 2.

The AFL will hire extra security guards and follow similar procedures to Franklin’s 2008 celebration, when he was the last player to kick 100 goals in a season.

Lance Franklin is closing in on the 1000-goal milestone. Picture: Phil Hillyard

On a night when Brendan Fevola finished with 99 goals, security guards spirited Hawks full-forward Franklin into the changerooms with players also surrounded by security guards on the field.

That break in play allowed Marvel Stadium security to clear the field of spectators as quickly as possible.

An AFL spokesman said on Monday the league was finalising plans around Franklin’s milestone to be communicated next week in the lead-in to Round 1.

There are maximum fines of up to $5500 for ground invaders at NSW sporting venues but realistically the league will attempt to protect players and ensure health and safety is upheld.

Close friend and premiership teammate Jordan Lewis said on Monday teammates effectively buffered Franklin from the fans until security guards arrived during that last home-and-away round of 2008.

“My memory is the players were huddled around Buddy because the security guards didn’t have time to get out and do it themselves. Then the plan was for the rest of the players to congregate in the middle of the arena. Security was around, but we weren’t circled by the security,” he said.

Fans invade the ground to celebrating Lance' Franklin’s 100th goal in 2008.

“The major point for us is at no stage did you feel like your safety was an issue. Fans usually come onto the ground to interact with us but they were thinking, ‘How good is this?’.

“They weren’t there to threaten players. From a player point of view it was a safe environment and for the people it was something they will probably tell their grandkids about.

“It was pretty chaotic to get Buddy off the ground and down into the race, but I remember there was footage of (teammate) Robbie Campbell taking photos with people and signing autographs. We said, ‘Robbie, we have still got a game to play’.

“But it’s one of those things you have to accept and it was actually quite joyous.”

St Kilda’s Fraser Gehrig kicked his 100th goal in the 2004 preliminary final and the break in play allowed Port Adelaide a critical change in momentum after the Saints’ hot start.

“If I can put my excuse hat on, which I can now because I am not coaching, it was unbelievably critical,” Thomas told the Sacked podcast in 2020.

“We had 19 inside-50s to four in the first quarter and we kicked four goals to their four goals, and all their goals came after the ground invasion,” he said.

“I am sure Port were happy with it, because we were unbelievable, we were playing as good a level of footy as we had played.”

Originally published as As Lance Franklin closes on 1000th goal, AFL prepares for fan invasion