Inside the crazy moments as fans hit the SCG to celebrate Lance Franklin’s 1000th goal
The fan who marked Lance Franklin’s 1000-goal footy in a mad scramble has decided whether he will reunite Buddy with the ball. Get the latest reaction to the milestone.
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The fan who marked Lance Franklin’s 1000-goal footy before making a hasty exit says he will reunite the superstar with the ball.
Matt King posted on his Instagram account on Saturday that he would return the ball to Franklin this week, saying “big things coming Tuesday”.
The Swans had earlier put a social media call out for the ball to be returned to Franklin, offering a chance to meet the legendary goalkicker and hand over the ball in person.
Meanwhile, One of the men who helped to secretly lure Buddy Franklin to Sydney almost a decade ago says the champion goalkicker’s once controversial nine-year mega contract has turned out to be “the best $10 million ever spent”.
As Franklin became the sixth man in history to push beyond the 1000-goal threshold, former Swans administrator Andrew Ireland told the sharpshooter’s ex-manager Liam Pickering in a text exchange that it had been a huge windfall for the code in New South Wales.
Pickering said of his Friday night text exchange with Ireland: “I said if he hadn’t given value for money up in Sydney, I will give up, and Andrew Ireland, who did the deal, came back with ‘Best $10 million ever spent’.”
He added on SEN: “When you think about it, he (Franklin) has been so big for footy in the northern states ... he has been worth every cent for the Swans.”
Franklin signed a nine-year $10 million deal at the end of the 2013 season, transferring from Hawthorn to Sydney, amid criticism that he wouldn’t see out the end of the deal.
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Now, the 35-year-old seems certain to sign a one-year extension to play on again in 2023.
Franklin was mobbed by the crowd as thousands of fans stormed onto the MCG after his fourth goal of the night.
In the end, and after a long time interacting with the crowd, he was rescued by SCG security official Anthony Di-Fabio, who led him through the crowd and back into the Swans rooms.
SCG hero. The other hero, the bloke who got Buddy to safety, has been identified as Anthony Di-Fabio. He works for SCG in security. Great effort last night Anthony. Legend pic.twitter.com/gqwhDzkKPg
— Neil Cordy (@neilcordy) March 26, 2022
It comes as the Swans have made an appeal for the ball that Franklin booted through for his 1000th goal during the last quarter of the clash with Geelong at the SCG.
During the mayhem that followed, the club was unable to retrieve the Sherrin.
The club has called on the person who took home the ball to present it back in person - and to meet - the superstar forward.
A video posted on social media identified the man who secured the ball after it went into the crowd.
Fair to say this punter had a memorable night at the footy #Buddy1000pic.twitter.com/2HDYYLBdDr
— Eden Richards (@Eden_Richards) March 25, 2022
SECURITY GUARDS RACKING UP GAME’S ELITE MILESTONES
The SCG security guard who helped rescue 1000-goal milestone man Buddy Franklin from the swarming masses on Friday night says he is just happy no one got hurt.
Anthony Di Fabio came to Franklin’s rescue after he spent almost 10 minutes swamped by wellwishers. He managed to get the champion forward back to the safety of the rooms.
He says he was just doing his job, but was delighted to have a first-hand account of one of footy’s greatest moments.
“It’s a great milestone and I’m just really happy for him, the spectators and that it happened at the SCG,” Di Fabio said.
“I just couldn’t believe how many people were happy for him.
“I saw both Swans and Geelong guernseys and everyone just wanted to get close, tap him on the head and congratulate him.
“It was just incredible to see everyone just wanting to congratulate him.”
He said while it was a great moment, there was a sense of relief when Franklin finally made his way back to the Sydney rooms after booting his fourth goal of the match.
“I’m just so glad it all went well and everyone’s safe and happy — it was a great occasion for everyone,” he said.
While most pundits believe this could be the last time an AFL player kicks 1000 career goals, Di Fabio wouldn’t rule out it happening again.
“We might see it again. So I’m never going to say never,” he said.
“We’ve currently got three guards at the SCG — two who saw the 1300-goal milestone (1999) and one the 1000-goal milestone (1995) with Plugger.”
‘I F***ING KICKED IT TO HIM’: SWAN’S PRICELESS BUDDY MOMENT
Lance Franklin’s father has spoken of his pride after his “gun” son created history by becoming just the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to kick 1000 goals.
Franklin’s father, Lance Snr, and mother Ursula both travelled from Western Australia to Sydney for the Swans’ first two matches of the season.
Franklin managed only one goal in Round 1 against Greater Western Sydney last Saturday, but saluted with four goals to reach his milestone against Geelong on Friday night.
Franklin’s parents had been unable to see their son play live for much of the past two years due to Covid-19 border restrictions.
Franklin’s sister, Bianca, also flew in from Los Angeles for a 48-hour visit to Sydney to attend the match before returning to the United States on Sunday morning.
Lance Snr said the family could not be happier.
“(It’s a) very proud moment and I’m rapt for the boys and just hope he keeps on going,” Lance Snr told Channel 7.
“That’s about it – he’s a gun.”
It was also a night to remember for young Swan Chad Warner, who delivered the pass to Franklin for the magic moment.
While Buddy was the number one target for fans to get to on the field, Warner wasn’t far behind.
A video posted on social media picked up Warner saying, “I f***ing kicked it to him” as he celebrated.
Lance Snr said he always had a feeling that his son was a special talent who would achieve big things.
“He’s been pretty good all his life, so I’m very proud,” he said.
“He’s bought a lot to the game, but that’s what he does I think. He just brings people on seats.”
Franklin’s wife, Jesinta, and their two children - Tullulah and Rocky – were also in attendance at the match.
Close friend and former Hawthorn teammate Jordan Lewis, as well as former Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, were also at the ground for the occasion.
THE HERO WHO HELPED BUDDY OFF THE GROUND
THE man who escorted Lance Franklin from the field after his 1000th goal has been hailed a hero after security at the ground failed to get to the Sydney forward first.
A man in a white shirt and sporting a Swans cap helped lead Franklin from the ground after fans at the SCG stormed the field following his milestone goal.
Security had been set up on the boundary near Franklin, but were beaten to him by fans who were keen to give the Sydney star a pat on the head to congratulate him and get a photo on their phones.
Fans had their legs hanging over the fence in readiness to run onto the ground as soon as Franklin’s kick sailed through the middle of the big sticks.
It took more than nine minutes for Franklin to leave the field, with the hero citizen helping him get back to the Sydney race to go down to the rooms.
This bloke in the Swans cap is a hero
— Neil Cordy (@neilcordy) March 25, 2022
He got Buddy off the ground
Single handed. Not security pic.twitter.com/nK1XdfiNPg
“I don’t know how many security there are there but it doesn’t look like a lot and he’s having to do it one out,” Channel 7 commentator Brian Taylor said of the man who helped Franklin.
Former Footscray and Sydney player turned sports reporter Neil Cordy shared a photo of the man on Twitter, writing: “This bloke in the Swans cap is a hero. He got Buddy off the ground. Single handed. Not security.”
There was a break in play of more than 30 minutes before the final 5 minutes and 55 seconds of the match could be played as officials waited for fans to leave the field of play.
Sydney won the match by 30 points to make for a 2-0 start to the season.
FAN POLEAXED BY TUOHY BUMP
Amid the wild celebrations for Franklin’s goal, Geelong star Zach Tuohy found himself in the thick of another contest.
As fans flooded the ground, Tuohy inadvertently collided with a fan who was charging towards Franklin at full speed.
The impact knocked the supporter off his feet but he quickly bounced back and continued his charge towards Buddy.
It was then Tuohy showed his true class, realising that the man had dropped his wallet in the collision. He quickly chased him down and returned it to him before making his way off the field.
In all the chaos Zach Tuohy still manages to be a great bloke.#AFLSwansCatspic.twitter.com/LoWihLqMrH
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) March 25, 2022
DOWN IN FRONT!
It is the moment that will be replayed for eternity.
And one footy fan found their way in the thick of the action.
Viewers watching at home couldn’t believe it when, just as Buddy was walking in to take his shot at goal, a fan’s head appeared on the TV coverage.
It covered a bit chuck of the bottom of the screen and stayed there as the ball sailed through the goals.
Would’ve been nice to see the 1000th goal. Instead we saw the back of this lady’s head. #qatarairwayspic.twitter.com/U0BT1YOOM6
— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger) March 25, 2022
Originally published as Inside the crazy moments as fans hit the SCG to celebrate Lance Franklin’s 1000th goal
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