Lance Franklin has announced his immediate retirement from the AFL, bringing an end to a remarkable career that spanned 354 games and 1,066 goals. The 36-year-old Sydney Swans forward informed his teammates of the decision on Monday morning, describing his career as an “unbelievable journey”.
Franklin was subbed out of the Swans’ victory over Essendon on Saturday with a calf injury, which was initially expected to keep him sidelined for two months. After discussing his future with coach John Longmire on Sunday, he slept on the decision and formally retired on Monday.
Longmire paid tribute to Franklin, calling him “the greatest forward of his generation” and “an absolute freak of nature”. He asked the media to respect Franklin’s absence from the press conference, noting the player is “very shy, very humble”.
Drafted by Hawthorn in 2005, Franklin kicked 580 goals and won two premierships before moving to Sydney in 2013 on a nine-year deal. He won the Coleman Medal in his first season with the Swans and helped the club to three grand finals, though they lost all three. His career tally of 1,066 goals ranks fourth in VFL/AFL history.
Franklin kicked his 1,000th goal at the SCG last year, prompting a pitch invasion that AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan called “perhaps the best moment in footy this century”. Longmire said Franklin’s impact on the Swans was immediate, bringing “a whole new generation of fans”.
Swans chief executive Tom Harley described Franklin as “an all-time great” who “transcends footy”. Longmire acknowledged the challenge ahead: “I don’t think you’ll ever fill a gap left by Lance Franklin, but the reality is the game moves forward.”
