Revealed: What made footy recluse Buddy Franklin return to the spotlight for the AFL in a VERY rare appearance
- Franklin retired from football in July last year
- Had one of the best careers the game has seen
- Buddy, 37, has kept a very low profile since quitting smoking
Lance Franklin has stayed away from footy since his retirement in July last year – but that will change when the AFL great makes a special appearance in this Sunday’s Hawthorn vs Sydney clash at the MCG.
“Buddy” was last seen at a football game when he, his wife Jesinta and their children Rocky and Tallulah waved to fans last August as he took a lap of honor during his farewell moving at the SCG.
He even turned down a chance to feature in the traditional procession of recently retired players at last year’s grand final.
He will now send a half-time message to fans on the big screen as the two teams he played for face off in Melbourne, and he will attend a pre-match reception.
Franklin (pictured with his wife Jesinta and children Rocky and Tallulah during his farewell to the SCG last year) will make a rare post-retirement appearance at the MCG this Sunday
The 37-year-old (pictured with his wife Jesinta) refused to join the procession of retired players at last year’s grand final, despite a personal request from then-AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.
“He’s back at the MCG this Sunday,” football journalist Mitch Cleary told Channel Seven.
“They couldn’t get him back for the motorcade last year on grand final day, but he’s back (for) Hawthorn and Sydney.”
“It’s been 10 years since his first year at the Swans, he’s back this week.
“He will be at the (club) president’s reception before the game against the Hawks and then he will address the members on the big screen at halftime.
“Ash Klein, the CEO of the Hawks, was the man who got it across the finish line.
“Not many people have managed to twist Buddy’s arm over the years, but they have managed to get him across the finish line.”
After initially playing for Hawthorn (pictured), Buddy continued to excel with the Swans – and will be there when his former teams face off in Melbourne this weekend.
Last September, Franklin shocked footy fans but turned down a place in the procession of recently retired stars at the Collingwood vs Brisbane grand final.
“Mate, we’d love you to be here on Saturday,” former AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said.
“100,000 ‘G supporters and millions of fans across Australia would like to say goodbye to you because you were one of the greatest players the game has ever seen,” he continued.
“He is one of the most remarkable players we have seen and there has not been a bigger name in football in the last 20 years.”
However, Franklin’s former teammate Jordan Lewis confirmed that Buddy would not be making the trip.
He had been invited to a Hawthorn event celebrating the 10th anniversary of his premiership in 2013, but Franklin also refused to attend that meeting with former friends.
The football icon was visibly emotional as Swans fans bid him a rousing farewell last August
Franklin gave the game some of its biggest scenes in recent memory when he was overwhelmed by thousands of fans after scoring his 1,000th goal in March 2022 (pictured)
“I spoke to him on Tuesday and he didn’t make the trip, it doesn’t matter”
Franklin was drafted by Hawthorn in 2004 and quickly established himself as a rare talent.
He scored 580 goals for the Hawks in 182 games, including the 2008 and 2013 grand final victories, before moving to Sydney in 2014 and kicking a further 172 goals for the Swans in 172 games.
Franklin missed out on premiership glory with the Bloods three times – losing the 2014, 2016 and 2022 grand finals – but has compiled a stunning list of personal achievements, including becoming the sixth player to score 1,000 goals in his career.
The 37-year-old made the All-Australian team eight times, won four Coleman Medals as the league’s top scorer, won Goal of the Year twice and led the goal his club scoring an incredible 13 times.
