Lance Franklin
Encyclopedia
Lance "Buddy" Franklin, Jr (born 30 January 1987) is a professional Australian rules football
er currently playing for the Hawthorn Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). Nicknamed 'Buddy', Franklin primarily plays as a centre half-forward
, but also spends some time in the midfield, where he plays along the wing
. Despite his height (196 centimetre) and weight (101 kilograms (222.7 lb)), Franklin is known for his athleticsm, being able to accelerate quickly from his opponents and playing with great endurance. He is of Indigenous Australian
descent.
to parents Ursula and Lance Franklin Sr. Sport runs through the family: Lance Sr. represented his state
in hockey
; and older sister Bianca Giteau plays in the ANZ Championship
for the Adelaide Thunderbirds
and his cousin Jeff Garlett
plays for Carlton
. Franklin has Indigenous Australian
heritage, which he continues to acknowledge with a tattoo
of a tribal elder who gave him the name 'Buddy', and Aboriginal artwork of a kangaroo
on his arm and participating in indigenous youth programs.
Franklin moved to Dowerin, Western Australia
at an early age and attended Dowerin District High School from years one to ten and later attended Wesley College
. He played one senior game for the Perth Football Club
in 2004, kicking one goal, and represented Western Australia at the AFL National Under 18 Championships
.
. Debuting in Round 1 of the 2005 season, Franklin had a strong presence up forward and played 20 out of 22 games, contributing 27 goals.
for his first AFL game of the season in Round 9 against Sydney. In Round 12, Buddy produced a 6 goal haul against Richmond
.
On 13 July 2006 "Buddy" signed a new two year deal with Hawthorn, after being linked with clubs such as Essendon
, West Coast
and Fremantle
. Another bag of 6 late in the season prompted predictions of Franklin to be the next big name forward in the AFL.
tally behind runner up Matthew Pavlich
of Fremantle and the eventual Coleman medalist Jonathan Brown of Brisbane
.
Franklin's tally included 9 goals in Hawthorn's win against Essendon in round 6. However, in Round 21 against the Western Bulldogs
, Lance kicked a record 11 behinds with his 2 goals. Only Jack Titus
and St Kilda's Dave McNamara
have kicked more behinds in a game without managing more than 2 goals. However, despite Franklin's inaccuracy, Hawthorn still won the match. In the 1st elimination final of 2007, the Hawks mounted a big comeback in the second half against Adelaide. Big "Buddy" was instrumental in the win, kicking 7 goals on his finals debut including the winning goal, from outside 50 metres with just 7 seconds left on the clock. Hawthorn were eliminated out of the Finals the following week by North Melbourne.
Franklin finished the season with one bag of 9 goals and 7 goals (against Adelaide in the Elimination Final), as well as four bags of five goals or more. He came equal third in the club's Best and Fairest, and was the leading goalkicker for Hawthorn.
with 102 goals in the home-and-away season. His season-high of 9 goals came against Essendon in round 11. Buddy also played for the Dream Team
, kicking 4 goals, in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
.
Franklin kicked his 100th goal for the home-and-away season against Carlton
in round 22, becoming the first to kick 100 goals in the AFL home-and-away season since Tony Lockett
in 1998, and the first Hawthorn player since Jason Dunstall
in 1996, to reach 100 goals in a season. Upon him reaching the milestone, several thousand supporters stormed the field and formed a massive huddle around Franklin, who was shortly ushered off the field into the change rooms until the ground had cleared. Prior to the match, the AFL had warned of a $6000 fine for every individual who jumped the fence; evidently this was not a concern for the thousands who did just that. He also was the first Aboriginal player to achieve this. He then added to that by kicking another eight goals in the qualifying final against the Western Bulldogs, tying with Dermott Brereton for the most goals kicked by a Hawthorn player in a finals match. Hawthorn went on to win the Grand Final
and the Premiership, and while Franklin did not play a large part in the Grand Final, he received the Peter Crimmins Medal
(Hawthorn's best and fairest) a week later for his consistent and high-level season.
after undergoing surgery on his thumb and his shoulder following Hawthorn's premiership. On his return to senior football his form has fallen well short of his 2008 performances. He played his 100th game in Round 19 of the 2009 AFL season against St Kilda at Hawthorn's second home, Aurora Stadium
in Tasmania. During the game, one of Franklin's teeth fell off during a marking contest between the forward and Zac Dawson
.
After Round 21 2009, Franklin was suspended for two games as a result of a hip and shoulder against Richmond
player Ben Cousins
. The Hawks appealed the decision, but failed. As a result, Franklin missed the Hawks' final home-and-away match against the Essendon Bombers, which the Hawks lost and therefore missed out the finals, causing Buddy to miss Round 1, 2010.
down at Aurora Stadium in the first round of the NAB Cup. During the first quarter, Franklin slotted three goals out of his five which he kicked during the night.
Without Franklin for its round one match against Melbourne
, Hawthorn won comfortably by more than 50 points before losing its next six matches in succession. Franklin was suspended again against Collingwood
in round 4 and also missed the round 7 clash against West Coast but since his return has shown glimpses of his brilliant form which included five goals against North Melbourne and Essendon in round five and six respectively.
Franklin was back to his best in Round 9, against Carlton at Etihad Stadium, in which he led Hawthorn to a convincing 50 point win. He contributed with 5 goal. He showed glimpses of his 2008
form and looks to have got his goal kicking form back as he is now averaging more than 3 goals a game in his career, 106 games for 324 goals. However in Round 10, Franklin was suspended for the third time in eight matches for a head-high bump on Sydney
defender Martin Mattner
.
In Round 13, just before the mid-year break, Lance Franklin effectively dragged Hawthorn over the line for a win against their arch-rival, Essendon. He kicked five goals for the match, but his two last ones were the standout highlights. The first one of which 'Buddy' retrieved the football from team-mate Jordan Lewis near the wing and sprinted quickly along the boundary line towards goal, before kicking a bouncing ball through for a goal from 50 metres out at a tight angle. His fifth and final goal for the night was nothing short of extraordinary; Franklin ran up the ground towards the back half and again retrieved the ball. He then ran quickly towards the goal along the boundary line, but this time, his shot for goal was much tighter. However, he still slotted the goal, sparking his team-mates, who were able to respond to the challenge by the Bombers. Franklin ended up with 26 disposals and 10 marks, making him the "Man of the Match". The win left Hawthorn in the top 8, with its win-loss ratio at 7–6. Alastair Clarkson
, the Hawthorn coach, later said:
Round 17 against St Kilda saw Lance Franklin playing well after coming back from an ankle injury
which has sidelined him the previous week against Brisbane. He kicked 5 goals, his best against the Saints. Despite his performance, the Saints forced a draw during the final seconds of the match, resulting in both teams sharing the 4 points.
In the last round of the home and away season, Round 22, Lance Franklin kicked 6 goals against Collingwood, helping the Hawks clinch a 3-point come-from-behind victory against the minor-premiers. It was the first time he kicked more than 5 goals since 2008. On 13 September Buddy's memorable goal in Round 13 against Essendon was chosen as the Goal of the Year
, as well as being picked for the All-Australian team
.
By the end of the home and away season, Franklin had achieved his second John Coleman medal, despite spending a significant amount of time in the midfield.
Franklin was Hawthorn's sole target up forward in their Qualifying Final loss to Geelong, kicking 4 goals. However, in the fourth quarter, he landed heavily in a marking contest and hyper-extended his knee. While footage of the incident suggested possible damage to his ACL, scans later revealed that he had instead suffered bone bruising and bleeding. Nevertheless, most observers considered Franklin's season to be over. Remarkably, he returned the following week against Sydney, kicking 4 goals and playing a vital part in the Hawks' eventual win.
Despite spending time in hospital with a virus in the lead-up, Franklin was a constant danger against Collingwood in the Preliminary Final. He kicked 3 goals, including a miraculous dribble from the forward pocket, which appeared to seal victory for the Hawks until Luke Ball snapped a late winner for the Magpies. Franklin was named the All-Australian full forward for his outstanding season.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er currently playing for the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). Nicknamed 'Buddy', Franklin primarily plays as a centre half-forward
Centre half-forward
In Australian rules football, the centre half-forward is a position on the half-forward line of a football field. The directly opposing player is a Centre-Half-Back....
, but also spends some time in the midfield, where he plays along the wing
Centre line
The Centre line refers to a set of positions on an Australian rules football field.It consists of 3 players, two on the wings , and one in the centre....
. Despite his height (196 centimetre) and weight (101 kilograms (222.7 lb)), Franklin is known for his athleticsm, being able to accelerate quickly from his opponents and playing with great endurance. He is of Indigenous Australian
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
descent.
Early life
Lance Franklin was born in PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
to parents Ursula and Lance Franklin Sr. Sport runs through the family: Lance Sr. represented his state
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
; and older sister Bianca Giteau plays in the ANZ Championship
ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
for the Adelaide Thunderbirds
Adelaide Thunderbirds
The Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was...
and his cousin Jeff Garlett
Jeff Garlett
Jefferey "Jeff" Garlett is an Indigenous Australian rules footballer at the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League. He is the first cousin of Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin from Hawthorn.-Early football:...
plays for Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
. Franklin has Indigenous Australian
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
heritage, which he continues to acknowledge with a tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
of a tribal elder who gave him the name 'Buddy', and Aboriginal artwork of a kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
on his arm and participating in indigenous youth programs.
Franklin moved to Dowerin, Western Australia
Dowerin, Western Australia
Dowerin is a town and shire located north-east of Perth in the central Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.-History:In 1906 the government extended the railway from Goomalling to the developing Dowerin Agricultural Area and decided to develop a townsite at the terminus...
at an early age and attended Dowerin District High School from years one to ten and later attended Wesley College
Wesley College, Perth
Wesley College, informally known as Wesley, is an independent, day and boarding school for boys and girls , situated in South Perth, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
. He played one senior game for the Perth Football Club
Perth Football Club
The Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club plays its matches at Lathlain Park.-History:...
in 2004, kicking one goal, and represented Western Australia at the AFL National Under 18 Championships
AFL National Under 18 Championships
The NAB AFL Under 18 Championships are the annual national Australian rules football championships for players aged 18 years or younger. The competition is seen as one of the main pathways towards being drafted into a team in the fully professional Australian Football League...
.
AFL Debut: 2005
After attending Draft Camp and showing promise Hawthorn selected him with their second pick, number five overall, in the 2004 AFL Draft2004 AFL Draft
The 2004 AFL Draft, concerning player acquisitions in the 2004/05 Australian Football League off-season, consisted of a trade period, a national draft, a pre-season draft, and the elevation of rookies...
. Debuting in Round 1 of the 2005 season, Franklin had a strong presence up forward and played 20 out of 22 games, contributing 27 goals.
2006
After injuring an ankle and a hand early in the 2006 season, he returned through the Victorian Football LeagueVictorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
for his first AFL game of the season in Round 9 against Sydney. In Round 12, Buddy produced a 6 goal haul against Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
.
On 13 July 2006 "Buddy" signed a new two year deal with Hawthorn, after being linked with clubs such as Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
and Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
. Another bag of 6 late in the season prompted predictions of Franklin to be the next big name forward in the AFL.
Breakthrough: 2007
Franklin had a great season in 2007, finishing the home and away season with 63 goals, putting him third in the Coleman medalColeman Medal
The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
tally behind runner up Matthew Pavlich
Matthew Pavlich
Matthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
of Fremantle and the eventual Coleman medalist Jonathan Brown of Brisbane
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
.
Franklin's tally included 9 goals in Hawthorn's win against Essendon in round 6. However, in Round 21 against the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
, Lance kicked a record 11 behinds with his 2 goals. Only Jack Titus
Jack Titus
Jack "Skinny" Titus was an Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League between 1926 and 1943 for the Richmond Football Club. In the golden era of the 1930s, Titus was one of the great forwards who regularly thrilled the crowds with spectacular goalkicking feats...
and St Kilda's Dave McNamara
Dave McNamara
David J. "Dave" McNamara was a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .McNamara played with St Kilda as a Centre Half-Forward....
have kicked more behinds in a game without managing more than 2 goals. However, despite Franklin's inaccuracy, Hawthorn still won the match. In the 1st elimination final of 2007, the Hawks mounted a big comeback in the second half against Adelaide. Big "Buddy" was instrumental in the win, kicking 7 goals on his finals debut including the winning goal, from outside 50 metres with just 7 seconds left on the clock. Hawthorn were eliminated out of the Finals the following week by North Melbourne.
Franklin finished the season with one bag of 9 goals and 7 goals (against Adelaide in the Elimination Final), as well as four bags of five goals or more. He came equal third in the club's Best and Fairest, and was the leading goalkicker for Hawthorn.
Coleman Medallist: 2008
2008 saw Franklin establish himself as one of the elite players in the competition, and was the recipient of the Coleman MedalColeman Medal
The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
with 102 goals in the home-and-away season. His season-high of 9 goals came against Essendon in round 11. Buddy also played for the Dream Team
Dream Team Australian rules football team
The Dream Team was an AFL representative team created to take part in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match against a Victorian representative team....
, kicking 4 goals, in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
The AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match was a one-off all-star game between two representative sides organised by the Australian Football League to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Australian rules football....
.
Franklin kicked his 100th goal for the home-and-away season against Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in round 22, becoming the first to kick 100 goals in the AFL home-and-away season since Tony Lockett
Tony Lockett
Anthony Howard "Tony" Lockett is a former Australian rules football player. Lockett is the highest goal scorer in the history of the VFL/AFL with 1,360 goals in a career of 281 games, that commenced in 1983 with the St Kilda Football Club, and finished in 2002 with the Sydney Swans...
in 1998, and the first Hawthorn player since Jason Dunstall
Jason Dunstall
Jason Hadfield Dunstall is a former Australian rules football player for the Hawthorn Football Club of the AFL. He is the third greatest goalkicker in the history of the VFL/AFL. Dunstall is regarded as one of the greatest full-forwards to have ever played, kicking 1254 goals, a feat only...
in 1996, to reach 100 goals in a season. Upon him reaching the milestone, several thousand supporters stormed the field and formed a massive huddle around Franklin, who was shortly ushered off the field into the change rooms until the ground had cleared. Prior to the match, the AFL had warned of a $6000 fine for every individual who jumped the fence; evidently this was not a concern for the thousands who did just that. He also was the first Aboriginal player to achieve this. He then added to that by kicking another eight goals in the qualifying final against the Western Bulldogs, tying with Dermott Brereton for the most goals kicked by a Hawthorn player in a finals match. Hawthorn went on to win the Grand Final
2008 AFL Grand Final
The 2008 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football match contested between the Geelong Football Club and the Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on the 27th of September 2008...
and the Premiership, and while Franklin did not play a large part in the Grand Final, he received the Peter Crimmins Medal
Peter Crimmins Medal
The Peter Crimmins Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player from the Hawthorn Football Club deemed best and fairest for the season.Peter Crimmins was a rover for Hawthorn, playing 1966-1975...
(Hawthorn's best and fairest) a week later for his consistent and high-level season.
2009
Franklin missed the 2009 NAB Cup2009 NAB Cup
The 2009 NAB Cup is the Australian Football League pre-season competition that was played before the Australian Football League's 2009 Premiership season begins. It culminated with the Final on 13 March 2009 played between Geelong and Collingwood and was won by Geelong...
after undergoing surgery on his thumb and his shoulder following Hawthorn's premiership. On his return to senior football his form has fallen well short of his 2008 performances. He played his 100th game in Round 19 of the 2009 AFL season against St Kilda at Hawthorn's second home, Aurora Stadium
Aurora Stadium
York Park is a sports ground in the Inveresk and York Park Precinct, Launceston, Australia. Holding 20,000 people—more than any other stadium in Tasmania—York Park has been known as Aurora Stadium under a six-year naming rights agreement signed with Aurora Energy in 2004...
in Tasmania. During the game, one of Franklin's teeth fell off during a marking contest between the forward and Zac Dawson
Zac Dawson
Zac Dawson is an Australian rules footballer who has played for the Hawthorn and St Kilda Football Clubs in the Australian Football League .-AFL career:- Hawthorn :...
.
After Round 21 2009, Franklin was suspended for two games as a result of a hip and shoulder against Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
player Ben Cousins
Ben Cousins
Benjamin Luke "Ben" Cousins is a former Australian rules footballer, best known for his 270-game career with and in the Australian Football League ....
. The Hawks appealed the decision, but failed. As a result, Franklin missed the Hawks' final home-and-away match against the Essendon Bombers, which the Hawks lost and therefore missed out the finals, causing Buddy to miss Round 1, 2010.
2010
After a disappointing year for the superstar, and to Hawthorn, the team got off to a positive start in 2010, downing RichmondRichmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
down at Aurora Stadium in the first round of the NAB Cup. During the first quarter, Franklin slotted three goals out of his five which he kicked during the night.
Without Franklin for its round one match against Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, Hawthorn won comfortably by more than 50 points before losing its next six matches in succession. Franklin was suspended again against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in round 4 and also missed the round 7 clash against West Coast but since his return has shown glimpses of his brilliant form which included five goals against North Melbourne and Essendon in round five and six respectively.
Franklin was back to his best in Round 9, against Carlton at Etihad Stadium, in which he led Hawthorn to a convincing 50 point win. He contributed with 5 goal. He showed glimpses of his 2008
2008 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:...
form and looks to have got his goal kicking form back as he is now averaging more than 3 goals a game in his career, 106 games for 324 goals. However in Round 10, Franklin was suspended for the third time in eight matches for a head-high bump on Sydney
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
defender Martin Mattner
Martin Mattner
Martin Mattner is an Australian rules football who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League. He was traded to Sydney from the Adelaide Crows in October 2007 in exchange for Draft pick number 28....
.
In Round 13, just before the mid-year break, Lance Franklin effectively dragged Hawthorn over the line for a win against their arch-rival, Essendon. He kicked five goals for the match, but his two last ones were the standout highlights. The first one of which 'Buddy' retrieved the football from team-mate Jordan Lewis near the wing and sprinted quickly along the boundary line towards goal, before kicking a bouncing ball through for a goal from 50 metres out at a tight angle. His fifth and final goal for the night was nothing short of extraordinary; Franklin ran up the ground towards the back half and again retrieved the ball. He then ran quickly towards the goal along the boundary line, but this time, his shot for goal was much tighter. However, he still slotted the goal, sparking his team-mates, who were able to respond to the challenge by the Bombers. Franklin ended up with 26 disposals and 10 marks, making him the "Man of the Match". The win left Hawthorn in the top 8, with its win-loss ratio at 7–6. Alastair Clarkson
Alastair Clarkson
Alastair Clarkson is a former Australian rules footballer and current coach of the Hawthorn Football Club.- North Melbourne :...
, the Hawthorn coach, later said:
Round 17 against St Kilda saw Lance Franklin playing well after coming back from an ankle injury
Sprained ankle
A sprained ankle, also known as an ankle sprain, twisted ankle, rolled ankle, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn.-Cause:...
which has sidelined him the previous week against Brisbane. He kicked 5 goals, his best against the Saints. Despite his performance, the Saints forced a draw during the final seconds of the match, resulting in both teams sharing the 4 points.
In the last round of the home and away season, Round 22, Lance Franklin kicked 6 goals against Collingwood, helping the Hawks clinch a 3-point come-from-behind victory against the minor-premiers. It was the first time he kicked more than 5 goals since 2008. On 13 September Buddy's memorable goal in Round 13 against Essendon was chosen as the Goal of the Year
Goal of the Year (Australia)
The Goal of the Year is a competition for the best goals kicked in the VFL/AFL during that season. It is run in conjunction with the Mark of the Year competition and is currently sponsored by Panasonic. The award is also known as the Phil Manassa Medal....
, as well as being picked for the All-Australian team
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
.
2011
After a moderately good year in 2010, Hawthorn started off 2011 with a loss to Adelaide which saw Franklin play only a minor role in the match. The next three rounds saw the Hawks begin to show their premiership form as they beat Melbourne, Richmond and West Coast. In Round 8 at the SCG, Franklin kicked his 400th goal for Hawthorn in a 6 goal haul as the Hawks beat the Swans by 46 points. He continued his consistent goal kicking form for the remainder of the year, including a bag of 8 against Port Adelaide at the MCG in Round 21.By the end of the home and away season, Franklin had achieved his second John Coleman medal, despite spending a significant amount of time in the midfield.
Franklin was Hawthorn's sole target up forward in their Qualifying Final loss to Geelong, kicking 4 goals. However, in the fourth quarter, he landed heavily in a marking contest and hyper-extended his knee. While footage of the incident suggested possible damage to his ACL, scans later revealed that he had instead suffered bone bruising and bleeding. Nevertheless, most observers considered Franklin's season to be over. Remarkably, he returned the following week against Sydney, kicking 4 goals and playing a vital part in the Hawks' eventual win.
Despite spending time in hospital with a virus in the lead-up, Franklin was a constant danger against Collingwood in the Preliminary Final. He kicked 3 goals, including a miraculous dribble from the forward pocket, which appeared to seal victory for the Hawks until Luke Ball snapped a late winner for the Magpies. Franklin was named the All-Australian full forward for his outstanding season.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct as end of season 2011
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Goals | Behinds | Kicks | Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Disposals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2005.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:... |
Hawthorn | 38 | 20 | 21 | 13 | 140 | 75 | 73 | 213 |
| 2006 2006 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006.-National Cup: 3.10.5 defeated 1.10.15 in the 2006 NAB Cup Final... |
Hawthorn | 23 | 14 | 31 | 9 | 98 | 53 | 62 | 156 |
| 2007 2007 AFL season The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia... |
Hawthorn | 23 | 22 | 73 | 62 | 201 | 123 | 92 | 293 |
| 2008 2008 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:... |
Hawthorn | 23 | 25 | 113 | 88 | 281 | 145 | 67 | 348 |
| 2009 2009 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:... |
Hawthorn | 23 | 21 | 67 | 46 | 187 | 109 | 129 | 294 |
| 2010 2010 AFL season -Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22... |
Hawthorn | 23 | 18 | 64 | 42 | 205 | 100 | 115 | 320 |
| 2011 2011 AFL season The 2011 Australian Football League season was the 115th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the debut year for , and was scheduled to be the only season to be played with 17 teams... |
Hawthorn | 23 | 22 | 82 | 61 | 250 | 130 | 151 | 401 |
| Totals | 142 | 451 | 321 | 1362 | 735 | 689 | 2025 | ||
Career Awards
- Hawthorn Premiership Player2008 AFL Grand FinalThe 2008 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football match contested between the Geelong Football Club and the Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on the 27th of September 2008...
(2008) - 2× Coleman MedalistColeman MedalThe Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
(2008, 2011) - 3× All-Australian (2008, 2010, 2011)
- HawthornHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
Best & FairestPeter Crimmins MedalThe Peter Crimmins Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player from the Hawthorn Football Club deemed best and fairest for the season.Peter Crimmins was a rover for Hawthorn, playing 1966-1975...
(2008) - HawthornHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
Best & Fairest Runner-UpPeter Crimmins MedalThe Peter Crimmins Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player from the Hawthorn Football Club deemed best and fairest for the season.Peter Crimmins was a rover for Hawthorn, playing 1966-1975...
(2010) - 5× HawthornHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
Leading Goal Kicker (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) - Phil Manassa MedalGoal of the Year (Australia)The Goal of the Year is a competition for the best goals kicked in the VFL/AFL during that season. It is run in conjunction with the Mark of the Year competition and is currently sponsored by Panasonic. The award is also known as the Phil Manassa Medal....
for AFL Goal of the Year (2010) - AFL Rising Star nominee (2005)
- Dream TeamAFL Hall of Fame Tribute MatchThe AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match was a one-off all-star game between two representative sides organised by the Australian Football League to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Australian rules football....
representative (2008) - The Deadlys AwardThe DeadlysThe Deadlys are an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Vibe Australia hosts the awards, which for have been held at the Sydney Opera House since 2001. The first Deadly awards were held in 1995...
for Most Outstanding Achievement in AFL (2007, 2008)