‘Really emotional moment’: Swans fan scatters nan’s ashes on SCG turf

A group of footy fans celebrated Buddy Franklin’s 1000th goal by scattering the ashes of their beloved nan on the hallowed SCG turf.

Amid the chaos at the SCG on Friday evening, a group of Sydney Swans fans pushed through the horde towards the centre circle.

Buddy Franklin had just become just the sixth player in AFL/VFL history to kick 1000 goals, booting four majors against the Geelong Cats to send Sydney into meltdown.

Stream every match of every round of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

As first reported by the ABC, footy fans Joel Brown and sister Krystal Clayton celebrated the occasion by scattering the ashes of their beloved nan Edna Dixon on the hallowed turf.

“Nan passed away mid-last year aged 93,” Brown told ABC.

“She was originally a Victorian but moved to Gosford in the early 80s. She supported Footscray but once she came up here she got involved with the Gosford Tigers and that led to her becoming a passionate Swans fan.

“She always said she wanted to do a coin toss on the SCG but she never got a chance.

“And she did say from time to time that she wanted some of her ashes scattered at the SCG so this was our chance to honour that.

“It was a little bit symbolic, or a sort of consolation prize almost. It was a really emotional moment.”

Krystal Clayton spreads her nan's ashes at the SCG after Buddy Franklin's 1000th goal. Supplied

Krystal Clayton, her husband Mike and their son with Krystal's brother Joel Brown hold up a picture of their nan at the SCG. Supplied

With six-and-a-half minutes left in the Round 2 contest, Franklin marked 30m out and booted the goal he needed to hit quadruple digits, sparking wild scenes as the stands emptied and fans poured onto the SCG.

Speaking to Channel 7 after the achievement, Franklin said the scenes were “surreal”.

“It was an amazing moment, it really was,” he said. “A lot of hard work to get there. Been playing for 18 years. A lot of hard work to get there but I wouldn’t be able to get there without having great teammates around me to provide those assists.”

Asked if he was freaked out by the scenes, he added: “I had the taste of Carlton Draught in my mouth from someone. It was an amazing moment. Something I will cherish forever.”

Franklin joined Tony Lockett, Gordon Coventry, Jason Dunstall, Doug Wade and Garry Ablett in the 1000 goal club, an achievement that may never be matched again.

Sydney's Lance Franklin kicks his 1000th AFL career goal. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Amid the wild celebrations, Geelong star Zach Tuohy inadvertently bumped into a fan who was sprinting towards the Sydney Swans hero.

Cameras at the SCG captured the moment Tuohy accidentally flattened a helpless fan donning a black coat, who quickly returned to his feet and legged it towards the man of the moment.

But Tuohy showed his class by picking up the spectator’s wallet, chasing after him and returning it before heading to the sheds.

In all the chaos Zach Tuohy still manages to be a great bloke.#AFLSwansCatspic.twitter.com/LoWihLqMrH

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) March 25, 2022

Originally published as ‘Really emotional moment’: Swans fan scatters nan’s ashes on SCG turf