Swans superstar Lance Franklin has paid an emotional tribute to his family and teammates prior to his 350th match against St Kilda.
Franklin was presented with his jumper for Friday night’s match against the Saints in the Swans’ rooms, with family members, as well as former Hawthorn teammates Jordan Lewis and Jarryd Roughead, in attendance.
The Swans’ media team captured the pre-game presentation, which featured tributes from Lewis, coach John Longmire and former Swans teammate turned assistant coach Jarrad McVeigh before Franklin addressed the room.
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“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my … sorry guys, I’m getting a bit emotional … my parents,” a teary Franklin said. “I wouldn’t be here today, play this amount of games.
“They were the ones that drove me to and from training, dropped me to games at a young age and got me to where I am today.
“To (wife) Jess, my two beautiful kids, you’re the reason I play this great game and still have that passion to get out there and perform each week.
“And then to the boys and this great footy club. I’m just so passionate and love this club and everything it stands for.
“Let’s go out there and have a really good win tonight.”
It was rare raw and public emotion from Franklin, who’s let his footy do the talking during his magnificent AFL career that will one day almost certainly see him become a legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Longmire embraces Buddy ahead of 350th | 01:07
Lewis and Roughead, who along with Franklin were taken by Hawthorn among the first seven picks of the 2004 national draft, flew up to Sydney to be part of the moving pre-game presentation.
“It’s a real honour to be invited, first and foremost. I think you understand the connection that footy makes along the way and how milestones can bring everybody back together,” Lewis said before joking: “I’ll be honest, it’s probably not a milestone we thought you (Franklin) would get to certainly when we first started – he was a bit erratic and unprofessional.”
Lewis said Franklin would go down as an “icon of the game:”
“There’s players that come and go, there’s players who you form really great friendships with and there’s also players that you can tell your grandkids you played with them – and I think Buddy you’re one of those players,” he said.
“It’s a little bit awkward saying it because you’re a good friend and an ex-teammate. But it’s a story that not only everyone in here will tell their grandkids, but certainly ‘Roughy’ and I. We’re very fortunate to play with you.
“Congratulations on a terrific career. You’re an icon of the game and a real friend to both Roughy and I. We appreciate that.”
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