Legendary commentator Bruce McAvaney has reflected on Lance Franklin’s AFL career.
Franklin retired from the game on Monday following a calf injury on Saturday against Essendon.
The superstar forward leaves the game with 354 games to his name to go with 1066 goals, putting him fourth on the all-time VFL/AFL goalkicking list.
McAvaney looked back on some of Franklin’s most exciting moments and talked about how special the superstar was at his peak.
“I went to so many matches knowing that he was the one person that I wanted to succeed on that night,” McAvaney told SEN Mornings.
“(If he performed well) you knew that the match, the game, and the fans would go to another level. He was able to do those special things.
“His ability to score from outside 50 gave him that extra click I reckon compared to a lot of players.
“You always felt that if he got the ball forward of centre that something remarkable was possible and often it turned out to be.
“You know, the long runs against (Cale) Hooker that night, the two of those.
One more time for the road.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 31, 2023
Buddy v Hooker, 2010 🔥pic.twitter.com/fSYX9IbCyF
“The hop, step and jump that you were just talking about a moment ago.
“Then that long run in Adelaide.
“You felt like Buddy, once he got the ball forward of centre, then anything was going to happen and could happen.”
Looking at the other players to kick 1000 career goals, McAvaney broke down why Franklin was a different type of goalkicker to the rest.
“He was a match winner,” McAvaney said.
“He was a different type of big forward, because if you compare him with the other 1000 goal scorers, he's not the powerhouse of (Tony) Lockett or (Jason) Dunstall, and I didn’t see (Gordon) Coventry play obviously, none of us did.
“(Doug) Wade used his backside all the time and Ablett Snr had incredible power, Franklin had that (power), but he was quicker.
“He was probably better with the ball at his feet than most of those players.
“So, it was a different sort of mix that brought together this great champion.”
While McAvaney has Wayne Carey as the best big forward he’s commentated, he’s certain Franklin will one day be bestowed with the highest honour in Australian Football, Legend status.
“(Wayne) Carey is probably the best big forward I've called.
“Franklin is certainly the most exciting and equal to any.
“I guess the other thing you say to yourself, Gerard, is he a Hall of Famer? Yes. Is he a Legend? Absolutely.
“You can't say that about too many players.”
Franklin retires with eight All-Australian blazers, four Coleman Medals, one Peter Crimmins Medal, six Hawthorn leading goal kicker awards and seven Sydney leading goal kicker awards.