BYE BYE, BUDDY: Lance Franklin ends his glorious career - AFL
Superstar forward has played his final game of AFL football, 19 seasons after his first
www.afl.com.auI don’t have live updates access right now, but here’s the latest widely reported context about Lance “Buddy” Franklin up to 2023–2024:
- Retirement: Franklin officially retired from AFL in 2023 after a storied 19-season career with Hawthorn and Sydney. He announced his retirement following a calf injury and concluded his playing days that season.[1][3]
- Career highlights: He finished with 1,066 AFL goals across 19 seasons, placing him among the all-time leading goalkickers, including top-three all-time scorers behind only a few legends.[7][1]
- Recent activities: Since retirement, he has remained active in football-related ventures and public appearances; there were reports in 2026 of a potential return to WA football at a junior level, but this is a separate, non-top-tier engagement rather than a full AFL comeback.[4]
If you want, I can look up current live updates from a reliable source and provide a concise, cited summary. I can also pull recent social posts or official club statements if you specify a preferred outlet (AFL.com, Hawks, Swans, or major Australian news networks).