Buddy and Jesinta Franklin to sell $9m Gold Coast mansion

The glamour couple are ready for a big move with their young family after putting their Greek-style mansion up for sale.

AFL great Lance “Buddy” Franklin and wife Jesinta are officially putting plans in place for the next phase of their lives after putting their Gold Coast mansion on the market.

The glamour couple purchased the sprawling 4497sq metre property, known as Villa Casa, in late 2022 for a record $8.75 million.

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Boasting seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms, the mansion was the most viewed property on realestate.com.au when it hit the market and was snapped up by the Franklins six days after it was listed.

Franklin, 37, retired from the AFL late in the 2023 season after suffering a calf injury, departing the game as an all-time great, playing 354 games and kicking 1066 goals for Hawthorn and the Swans.

Wife Jesinta, a model and fashion influencer, spoke recently about the couple and their two young children enjoying the change of pace after leaving Sydney.

Franklin, wife Jesinta and their children during a lap of honour at the SCG on August 27, 2023. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

The next step appears to be moving to a farm once they have sold Villa Casa.

“We love it. We absolutely love it. We’re actually thinking of selling up and buying a farm now, so yeah, we’ll see how we go,” Jesinta said on Channel 7’s The Morning Show.

“But that could be the next thing we’re talking about the next time I’m here. Potentially (we could sell the dream home). I mean, yes.

“We just love the idea of being on land, growing our own food, having horses, a couple of Highland cows, we’d love that. It could be something interesting.”

Jesinta has published social media posts of the stunning house, including a New Year’s Eve celebration.

While Buddy has been largely out of the public eye, apart from a farewell at the MCG in late April when the Swans faced the Hawks, Jesinta said the family still keeps an eye on the footy.

The Greek-style property. Photo: Amir Mian Prestige

Some of the interior of the stunning house. Photo: Amir Mian Prestige

“We’re getting so much quality time together and we always make sure that we watch the Swannies and the Hawks games,” Jesinta said.

“There’s those two games we carve out the time out for and watch them.

“So we still feel like we’re a little bit a part of it, but it’s nice not to be stressed out by it or have the pressure of winning or losing.”

Jesinta, who was crowned Miss Universe Australia and finishing second runner up in the Miss Universe pageant, married Franklin in 2016.

While Jesinta’s career then somewhat took a back seat as Buddy played out his career as an all-time great, the roles have shifted in recent times.

“Look, we’re still working on picking up our dirty laundry and learning to put them in the basket,” Jesinta said.

Franklin speaks with Jordan Lewis as he was farewelled during the Round 7 match between the Hawks and Swans at the MCG. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“But no, other than that it’s so nice to have him around. It’s so nice to have that extra support at home as well.

“For so long I was the support system to him because footy always came first and there was just not a lot of room in his schedule to move.

“Now it’s really nice to have that reciprocated so I can do a little bit more with my career and he can be at home with the kids.”

Buddy won two premierships and lost one with Hawthorn, playing in three more losing grand finals for the Swans and ending his career as an eight-time All-Australian.

The couple had previously sold a luxury pad in Sydney’s eastern suburbs for $5 million to complete their move to the Gold Coast.

Originally published as Buddy and Jesinta Franklin to sell $9m Gold Coast mansion