Football has always been Lance Franklin’s obsession.

The 1000-goal superstar sat down for an exclusive, in-depth one-on-one interview with News Corp’s chief football writer Mark Robinson earlier this month to explain his lifelong love of the game.

He reveals that he has always played in the moment. Despite delivering one of the game’s greatest highlight packages, he can’t explain any of it.

“For me, everything is purely instinct,” he says.

“Throughout my career I just make it up on the spot and if it comes off, it comes off.

“I think the players who play on instinct are the good ones.”

Franklin is more than one of the good ones. He is one of the all-time greats.

He now sits in esteemed company on 1000 career goals, bringing up the milestone at the SCG on Friday, March 25 in his 320th game.

In this wide-ranging interview a humble Franklin talks about the highs and lows of his career, but also explains to Robbo that AFL has had to make way for a second love - his family.

“It’s a beautiful thing being a father of two kids. It’s been life changing for me and I’ve absolutely loved it,” he says.

Mark Robinson: You’re 35. Can you remember life as an 18 or 19-year-old?

Lance Franklin: Young, immature … it’s a long time ago. I’ve been involved in football for half my life now. I’m 35 and was drafted when I was 17, drafted out of Perth. I came into the game immature, probably not ready. It takes you a long time to adapt to the professionalism and the demands of AFL footy.

MR: You were shy then. Are you still shy or are you very comfortable with who you are?

LF: Totally. As you mature and get older, you become a lot more comfortable with yourself.

MR: And accepting of your standing in the game?

LF: Not so much. Like, I’m naturally pretty shy if I don’t know you, but if you get to know me, people would say I’m extroverted around the club.

MR: A father of two, how old are the kids now?

LF: Tullulah just turned two and Rocky’s turning one on March 23.

MR: What did you think when your great mate Jordan Lewis accidentally announced the name was Rocky before you did?

LF: Didn’t worry me at all, it is what it is. It was a complete slip up, but not an issue.

MR: Did having kids change you more than you expected, or did you, like other aspects of your life, take it in your stride?

LF: It’s the most amazing thing that can ever happen to a person.

Obviously, you have your tough days, every day can be different, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It does put everything into perspective.

Football can be such a stressful industry, there’s so much pressure that comes with it, but having kids has shifted my focus a lot. My focus is on my kids and on my family and making sure I can be the most present father possible when I get home.

MR: You’re obsessed with footy and now you’re obsessed with your kids, and there’s not much time for anything else.

LF: Totally. And I love both of them. My family is my No. 1 priority but football is what I love to do. I’ve loved it since I was 17 and walked in the door at Hawthorn to now. I have that same feeling. I’m still motivated, keen to play and perform.

MR: And still besieged by butterflies on game day when you walk up the race?

LF: Yeah, I’ve still got the anxiety. There’s nothing better than coming into the football club, preparing and running out with your mates and playing.

MR: Have you ever been able to grasp your standing in the game? Your greatness?

LF: It’s not something I think about. When I’m finished I’ll probably look back and be pretty proud of what I’ve achieved. But I don’t think about it at this stage.

MR: Are you aware of what we, the football public, think of you as a player?

LF: No.

MR: Seriously? For several years were the No. 1 player in the game. Is there pride in that sort of recognition?

LF: It’s not something you’re thinking about. You don’t play football and say, ‘I want to be a top-five player or whatever’. You just go out and play and if that stuff comes, it comes. For me, it’s never been about that. It’s about working hard, training and playing good footy.

MR: Do you watch replays of games?

LF: Yeah, I have my whole career.

MR: Have you ever typed into YouTube, “Buddy Franklin highlights”?

LF: No … (smiles) maybe after a couple of quiet ales with Jordan watching on.

MR: I watched them last night. You are so expressive on the field, but deeply private off it. A fair assessment?

LF: I’ve been like that my whole career. I’m a naturally private person, I like to keep to myself, it’s just the way I’ve been. I train hard, enjoy my time at the footy club and away from that spend time with my family.

MR: Observers would say you are the most glorious instinctive player they’ve seen, yet you put it down to hard work.

LF: I’m not talking about myself, but it can be a frustration for any good player. Players come in and, yeah, we’ve got talent, but it’s the stuff on the training track that makes us players better. It’s hard work. You’ve got to perfect your craft and not think you’ve made it. OK, you’ve had one good season, but it’s season on season and making sure you are consistent.

MR: Always a hard worker but did that take time to mature as well?

LF: I’ve always trained hard. When I first got to Hawthorn it was about knowing my capabilities and once I adapted to the program, my fitness went to another level. I think I was able to train at a really high level for a long time and that flowed into games.

MR: Do you ever think — and a lot of us do — about how Richmond took Richard Tambling ahead of you in the 2004 draft?

LF: No. At the end of the day, at under age level that’s what it was. He was a better player. He was from the NT and back then it was WA v Victoria and South Australia and he was in Division Two. But if a kid is better than you at that age, well, you take the best player and he was. It is what it is. There’s always those stories in the draft.

MR: You’ve never said anything controversial or condemning or created a nasty headline in your 18 years in football. Why is that?

LF: I stay in my lane. The media has never been for me. It doesn’t really interest me. I know it’s a huge part of our game, and I love watching the footy shows and reading the Herald Sun and all the papers, and what it provides for our sport is huge. But personally I go about my business quietly and get on with it.

MR: How have you been able to keep your life so private, and how much has the city of Sydney helped you?

LF: Melbourne … yeah I enjoyed part of it, but I didn’t enjoy other parts of it. Like the privacy part of it. I’ve touched on this before and I really don’t like going over it, but yeah the privacy part, you can’t go about your business, there’s always people …

MR: Not the same battle in Sydney?

LF: Yes and no. But over time, you learn to deal with it. I’ve matured a lot since I left Hawthorn. When I left Hawthorn, I was a boy, I was 26 but a young 26. I was immature, I was a completely different person. Since I got up here, the club has been very supportive of me, I’ve had some really good people around me, and I’ve had a supportive wife. It’s been a life-changing move for me.

MR: Will you stay in Sydney? Where’s mum and dad?

LF: Mum and dad are in Perth, my wife’s family is in Queensland, so it’s uncertain what it looks like when it all finishes up. Mum and dad stayed in Melbourne for a few years after I left, and now they’ve been in Perth for two and a half years.

MR: Are they good?

LF: Yeah. They’re coming over soon. The old man is a little bit rattled with Covid and travelling, but they get over here on the 17th and will be here for the first few games.

MR: When’s the last time you saw them?

LF: A couple of years. But we’re close. I speak to them, my mum, two or three times a day.

MR: Two or three times a day?

LF: Yep. I don’t think there’s much talking done in the end (laughing). They’re getting older and when you can’t see them … that’s been tough for me. They haven’t even met Rocky, that’s hard, and they saw Tullulah when she was just born, so it’s been tough. They will stay with us and hopefully the 1000 goals can get done early in the year and we can all celebrate as a family.

MR: I watched a video of you crying to Dermott Brereton when speaking about your parents after the 2013 premiership win.

LF: That was an emotional time because I knew I was leaving. That for me was a tough decision, it wasn’t an easy thing to leave Hawthorn. But I knew it was the right decision. Everyone says, ‘you didn’t win the premierships’ after that, but I made my decision and I’ll live by that and I sit comfortably where that’s at.

MR: Do you ever hear the debate about whether the Lance Franklin move to Sydney has been a success or not, because a premiership has not been won?

LF: It’s always around. For me, it was the right decision. Winning premierships is what we play for, yes, but for me the best decision was to get out and have a change. That’s what I needed. I’ll walk away from this game a better person for having come here, there’s no doubt about that.

MR: This is the best you’ve spoken in 17 years of footy.

LF: Yep. But that’s what I truly believe.

MR: Are you a history buff? Do you know who else has kicked 1000 goals?

LF: Ablett, Dunstall Lockett … Wade and one more.

MR: He played for Collingwood.

LF: Nuh, I’m not sure of the other one.

MR: Gordon “Nuts” Coventry. He played in the 1920s and 1930s. What’s your thoughts about joining that group?

LF: I’m obviously proud but it’s not something I’m overly thinking about. I’m proud, of course, but as I said before, when I finish up, I’ll look at it and think what a great achievement. But it’s not something that’s driving me.

For me, it’s about playing good footy. Last year I played 18 games after having missed almost two years of football and last year was a confidence thing for me with my body. Then this pre-season, touch wood, everything has been pretty seamless.

MR: Because of your age has it been a modified program or are you full swing in the group?

LF: I’ve joined the group this pre-season which is the first time in more than 10 years I’ve been able to train with the group. Nearly every session. I’m still getting in and out of drills, I’m not 18 or 19 and we’re still managing what I’m doing, but I’m doing most sessions.

MR: And any career PBs in the running?

LF: (laughing) … I haven’t done a time trial for many a year.

MR: This is your ninth season in Sydney, which is the last of your monster deal. Do you feel like you could play past this season?

LF: We’re not sure. We’re going to leave it until the end of the year and work out what it looks like. I don’t have a player manager, I have a guy who manages other stuff outside of footy for me, but I’ve spoken to Charlie (Gardiner, head of football) and Tom (Harley, CEO), and we’ll see how the year plays out.

MR: So, you’re open to the idea?

LF: I just want to see how I’m going, hopefully have a good season and then sit down and …

MR: That’s ‘open to the idea’, Bud …

LF: I want to make sure I’m playing good footy. I don’t want to be one of those old grumpy buggers who goes on one too many years, like Jordan, and maybe Roughy (laughing). Yeah, I’m open to it but we’ll see how the year unfolds.

MR: You love football so much, you will play until your body says no, or you can’t contribute.

LF: If I’m not playing good footy I’ll go to John (Longmire) and say it’s done.

MR: Any plans post-footy?

LF: I’m not sure. It was to be involved in footy in some aspect, but now, I just want to enjoy this last year of contract

MR: Will you travel? As much as you have had a joyous life, have you missed out on anything?

LF: It’s the best job in the world, it’s amazing, I can’t complain. And that’s why I’d love to stay in football and play, but who knows.

MR: Are you interested in the world?

LF: Totally. I’ve travelled the world, but you only go for a couple of weeks and come back for pre-season. But that will come. I’ve got another 50 years hopefully.

MR: You have kicked 995 goals and can you make a comment about five of those 995 goals? Your first goal?

LF: I got a 50m penalty I think. The guy who played at Hawthorn who went to Richmond, Mark Graham, pushed me and I got a 50 and kicked it.

MR: The hurdle goal at the MCG against Collingwood?

LF: I struggle to explain this kind of stuff. For me, everything is purely instinct. Was I thinking of jumping him? Probably not. Throughout my career I just make it up on the spot and if it comes off, it comes off. I think the players who play on instinct are the good ones.

MR: 2011 prelim versus the Pies, deep pocket, Tarrant as your opponent … remember that one?

LF: Yep.

MR: Your thoughts?

LF: I don’t know …

MR: I could pick out 30 goals and you would be reluctant to speak about them, yeah?

LF: Yes, it’s not something that sits comfortably with me.

MR: Do you believe you are an entertainer?

LF: Yeah, you want to go out there and put on a show and that’s been my mindset since I was first drafted. You want to perform and be at your best and you want people to enjoy it.

MR: What has been the moment when you’ve most entertained the masses?

LF: I think the Bulldogs final in 2008. That was the most enjoyable game. Kicked eight in my second or third final at the MCG. That was a good night, it was fun.

MR: What do you remember about your 100th goal in 2008?

LF: I remember that perfectly. Hodgey to Lewis and Lewis to my little man Cyril … he was always going to pass that.

MR: The last time you were on a field was last year’s elimination against the Giants. You missed a goal with about three minutes to play …

LF: Yep.

MR: It was 53m out, it looked like it was going to drift right to left and it didn’t.

LF: That one sat with me for a few months. That’s my bread and butter really, that’s my spot, I should’ve kicked it. That was three or four months of constantly thinking about it. It doesn’t leave you, it certainly didn’t with me. You’ve just gotta kick it.

MR: What went wrong?

LF: I didn’t kick through it enough that’s for sure. I kicked it on my instep and it just didn’t come back.

MR: Are you superstitious?

LF: I can be. It tends to vary. But it’s not the be all if I don’t do things exactly the same.

MR: What’s the strangest superstition?

LF: I get my car washed every game we’re at home. As they clean the car I just sit there have a coffee. I always do that. Same car wash in Bondi. The car stuff will always happen, but anything else with football, it’s unpredictable.

MR: Do you enjoy reading about other players?

LF: The best players are awesome to watch, like Dangerfield, Martin, Fyfe, Petracca, and that’s why your turn on the TV and watch them.

MR: Who is the best player in the comp?

LF: Bontempelli by a fair margin. When we played them at Marvel last year, I ran past him and thought ‘wowee’. Trust me, he is wow. He is another level, he’s another couple of levels. He’s smooth, he’s big, he’s good.

MR: That’s the most controversial comment you’ve ever made.

LF: Yep, there’s a headline for you.