Franklin’s magical moment “something to behold” as SCG witnesses “biggest crowd invasion of all time”
Lance Franklin has delighted fans after becoming just the sixth AFL player to kick 1000 goals in a feat likely to never be completed again.
The ensuring scenes in the final quarter were one that made footy fans across the country jealous they weren’t at the SCG, as tens of thousands of patrons flanked Franklin the instant he celebrated the magical milestone.
Sydney eventually went on to win the game comfortably by 30 points, however that win pales in comparison to the headline story of Friday night.
ALL HAIL THE KING!
— AFL (@AFL) March 25, 2022
Lance Franklin kicks goal 1,000!#FootyOhWhatAFeeling | #Buddy1000 pic.twitter.com/E4rjVcoV4l
As nuanced as the clash was in the first half, once Franklin got one then two goals in the third term, all eyes turned to the Swans superstar.
He looked much hungrier than last week, Gerard Healy describing the 35-year-old as “marauding” in commentary for AFL Nation.
He almost had number 1000 on the eve of three-quarter time when spinning out of several Geelong tackles, but it set up an enthralling fourth quarter where all eyes were on the big Swan.
After he had a few almost chances early in the last, Franklin finally saluted when converting a set shot with 5.55 left on the clock, setting off instant scenes across Sydney and the wider football community.
It was a battle to get off the field for Franklin, who fought for almost 10 minutes to enter the changeroom.
However, the smile never left his face, Gerard Whateley praising the way Franklin handled the occasion.
“I think he’s done a brilliant job (navigating his way out),” Whateley told AFL Nation.
“He’s given people moments to remember.
“That was something to behold.”
The size of the crowd storming the SCG was simply incredible in scenes we’ll never forget, Anthony Hudson marvelling at the spectacle.
“That’s the biggest crowd invasion of all time,” he added.
While the Swans were by far and above the better team, Geelong’s inaccuracy cost them staying in the game for far longer. Geelong's 10.17 was dreadful when compared to the 17.5 that Sydney kicked, and certainly cost the Cats at least a chance of staying in the contest.
Sydney looked slick early on, their spread from the stoppage a major highlight as they simply looked too slick for the Cats. That was never more evident than in the second term, as Sydney’s overlap absolutely mauled Geelong to slam on four straight goals and seven for the term.
The Swans had come in with a plan to rush the Cats and John Longmire’s thinking paid off. 56 marks for the Cats to three-quarter time was well behind the Swans’ count of 77. The slicing play that Chris Scott’s men exhibited against Essendon in Round 1 was gone, the Cats’ defence instead forced to kick up the line far more than would have been hoped.
Tom Stewart, Geelong’s playmaker out of the back, was also kept quiet in the first half as his club struggled for fluidity in their ball movement. In comparison, Nick Blakey was everywhere for the Swans, happy to run the ball out of defence on multiple occasions.
Healy summed the night’s play up well.
“There’s not many perfect night in footy, but this is a perfect night.”
Sydney gets the chance to go 3-0 against the Western Bulldogs, while Geelong will be hoping Friday’s clash is little more than a blip on the radar when they take on Collingwood next Saturday.
FULL SCORE
Sydney: 4.3, 11.3, 15.4, 17.5, (107)
Geelong: 2.4, 6.7, 10.17, (77)
GOALS
Sydney: Heeney 5, Franklin 4, Hayward 3, Gulden 2, McLean, Mills, Rowbottom
Geelong: Close 3, Atkins, Duncan, Hawkins, Kolodjashnij, Parfitt, Tuohy
BEST
Sydney: Heeney, Mills, Blakey, Franklin, Gulden
Geelong: Close, Smith, Guthrie, Duncan, Blicavs
INJURIES
Sydney: N/A
Geelong: N/A