sport news Lance Buddy Franklin reveals how he'd like to be remembered ahead of AFL game ... trends now
One of the AFL's greatest-ever forwards, Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, is set to play his 350th game this weekend, and the superstar Swan has revealed how he'd like to be remembered when he finally bows out.
The 36-year-old will line up for Sydney when they take on St Kilda at the SCG for the huge milestone, 6647 days after he made his debut for Hawthorn as a skinny teenager in 2005.
The Indigenous superstar, who hails from Western Australia, will go down as one as the greatest First Nations players the game has ever seen in addition to being one of the best forwards of all time.
His CV is easily the most glittering of any current player, and highlights the wizard-like way he has transfixed the footy world thanks to his thumping left boot and remarkable athleticism.
Two premierships, eight All Australian blazers, four Coleman Medals, 13-time leading club goalkicker and a Best and Fairest winner in a premiership year. Twice he won Goal of the Year for efforts most players could only dream of.
Lance 'Buddy' Franklin will play his 350th AFL game when the Swans take on St Kilda on Thursday night, and he has revealed how his wants to be remembered after his storied career is over
The Swans superstar, pictured with wife Jesinta in 2021, is softly-spoken and very modest off the field, and loathe to highlight his own achievements on the field
Franklin is pictured in 2013, celebrating the second of two flags he won with the Hawks
But it isn't those achievements he wants to be remembered for.
Franklin, one of the game's more modest and softly-spoken figures off the field, wants to be remember for two very simple things when he finally retires.
'(As) someone that had a crack … and just had fun,' he told Swans staffers in a video that will be the only interview he gives ahead of his milestone game.
'That's been the biggest thing throughout my journey is that I've kept things pretty simple and I think the key has been obviously that enjoyment part.
'That's probably why I've lasted so long, because I keep things simple, go out there with a smile on my face and just enjoy it.
'Whether that's training, whether that's doing weights, Pilates, just having fun and building strong relationships with everyone here.'
It has been remarkable for a 199cm, 102kg key forward to play so many games, and remain almost completely free of serious injuries, even in the age of sports medicine and high performance training expertise.
Franklin said he wants to be known as a footballer that has 'had a crack' and always 'had fun'
As a skinny teenager, Franklin made his debut for Hawthorn aged just 18 in 2005 (pictured during round 17 of that year)
Franklin concedes there is a bit of 'luck' involved and some 'good genetics', but that is an incredibly self-deprecating view of someone who has kicked more than 1500 goals.
His career has been so long and successful that he has outlasted eight Aussie Prime Ministers, 1020 other players, 76 AFL head coaches. Teammate Corey Wagner was just 18 months old when Franklin made his debut.
'It's a lot of games,' Franklin joked.
'It's something I'm very proud of, there's no doubt about that. To reach 350 games in AFL football is an enormous achievement.'
But Franklin admitted there is one thing in particular he now finds tough about playing in the AFL aged 36.
Despite remaining relatively free of the continual niggles that plague most veterans, the Swans star has been managed by coach John Longmire in some games, and held back by staff in training.
The question for Sydney staff isn't how he can play in every AFL game, but what matches does he need to play in to give the Swans the
