News LANCE Franklin, one of the greatest players in the history of the game, has announced his retirement, effectively immediately.

[_Mike_]

LANCE Franklin, one of the greatest players in the history of the game, has announced his retirement, effectively immediately.

The 36-year-old informed his teammates on Monday that his decorated career is over.

The news comes after he injured his calf in Saturday night's win over Essendon.


Franklin confirmed the news with an Instagram post alongside a photo of Alastair Clarkson and John Longmire, his two AFL coaches.


"What a journey. Thanks to everyone who has been on this crazy ride with me," he wrote.

Courtesy: ALF.com.au

 

[windyhill]

Farewell to The Great Man.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Farewell to The Great Man.

Could go with a classier thread title....

The greatest forward of my generation (in my 30s)

Not even a close second

 

[TheUnicorn]

He's dead?

Not quite, He has announced his retirement.


Best forward of my generation, Thanks for exciting us over the years!

 

[Superstar swan]

The afl world deserved a farewell game to say show their appreciation and respect to the legend.

Pretty flat way to go out

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Been a pleasure watching him play.

 

[dmc333]

That's sad, they had him playing on with the Suns just last night on Fox Footy.

 

[Big_Birdy]

Not quite, He has announced his retirement.


Best forward of the AFL era, Thanks for exciting us over the years!

I did realise that. i think the title and OP could have been better.

Sad way for him to go out. But what a great career. Will be a legend when eligible.

 

[LeverPuller]

Damn.

 

[Magma]

The goalkicking legend finishes his career with 1066 goals from 1054 games, making him the fourth-most prolific goalscorer in the history of the VFL/AFL.

i know he's been around a while but afl.com might be slightly inflating that statistic.

possibly footy's last bonafide star. genuine people puller. unstoppable at his peak, and a remarkable career for a forward who couldnt mark over his head.

 

[Darksidepoints]

Crap way for a champion to bow out.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Once I heard he had the dreaded calf injury, never good as you near the end of your career, I knew it was over. Buddy has been a once in a generation player. Even though he played elsewhere for the second half of his career, he remained a favourite, certainly for me, and many other Hawks supporters.

Enjoy your retirement Buddy, you were great.

 

[smish]

Champion. One you'll tell the grandkids about.

 

[sante]

Deserves a farewell. Absolute champion

 

[SSSSSS]

End of an era.

 

[Not Like This]

All time great, one of the most entertaining, unique players I’ve ever seen.
For all the guff the swans contract received I always thought it was a good deal, overpaying for a legend isn’t that big a deal.
Will miss ya big buddy, all the best in post footy life

 

[Sphynx]

Could go with a classier thread title....

The greatest forward of my generation (in my 30s)

Not even a close second

What age in your 30's?

I'm 37 and your generation and he's behind Carey and Ablett Snr in my time watching football.

 

[Hawks_4478]

Crap way for a champion to bow out.

Yep, same as Judd when he did his knee

 

[kreuze_missile]

Talk about going out low key. Man clearly does not like the spotlight.

Good luck to him. One of the best to ever do it.

 

[Superstar swan]

Gaj aswell with his shoulder

 

[Wosh]

Always such a crap way for a legend of the game to go out.
Thanks for the entertainment Buddy and good luck in life going forward

 

[Jatz]

Best player I've seen play in my 31 years.

At full flight, very few were ever capable of what Buddy was. Fantastic player and a fantastic career.

 

[TheUnicorn]

Crap way for a champion to bow out.

		W	L	D	%
1.	Collingwood	16	7	0	88.3%
2.	Brisbane Lions	14	9	0	101.8%
3.	Port Adelaide	14	9	0	90.7%
4.	Sydney	13	9	1	163.5%
5.	Essendon	13	10	0	146.9%
6.	St Kilda	13	10	0	94.1%
7.	GWS	13	10	0	85.9%
8.	Melbourne	13	10	0	85.7%
9.	Geelong	12	10	1	149.2%
10.	Carlton	12	10	1	125.4%
11.	Richmond	12	10	1	102.4%
12.	Gold Coast	11	12	0	94.0%
13.	Adelaide	10	13	0	97.1%
14.	Fremantle	10	13	0	87.4%
15.	Western Bulldogs	10	13	0	72.8%
16.	Hawthorn	9	14	0	115.6%
17.	North Melbourne	5	18	0	81.1%
18.	West Coast	5	18	0	70.4%

QF1: Collingwood v SYDNEY
QF2: Brisbane Lions v PORT ADELAIDE
EF1: ESSENDON v Melbourne
EF2: St Kilda v GWS

SF1: Collingwood v ESSENDON
SF2: BRISBANE LIONS v GWS

PF1: SYDNEY v Brisbane Lions
PF2: Port Adelaide v ESSENDON

GF: SYDNEY v Essendon

Buddy gets back for the Grand Final.
Sydney win by 1 point, Buddy kicks 10 goals with the 10th being after the siren.

 

[danster168]

One of the all time greats. No-one has ever moved the way he did in his prime. An absolute goal kicking machine. Thanks for the years and years of greatness.

 

[CasuallyDressed]

Most purely talented forward I'll probably ever see.

That goal he kicked against us in the 2011 prelim was hard not to applaud.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Brilliant player and greater footballing entertainer on the ground. Tore us apart numerous times over the journey, and took the best defender in the comp for us to contain him at other times.

Not a time for comparisons with other greats - just let us enjoy the privilege of having been witness to Buddy's career for the time being.