Lance Franklin
"If I'm having a bad day or a good day it’s just about being open with the way I speak to everyone and I just want to play football. "
Also often known as Budd Franklin, Lance Franklin is a former Aussie rules footballer, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He played for the Hawthorn Football Club from 2005 to 2013, before switching to the Sydney Swans from 2014 to 2023.
Since his retirement following an injury in 2023, Franklin has also released an autobiography detailing the incredible highs and lows of his career, and his life. This release, My Football Journey, features a number of stunning images of Lance on the field, as well as contributions from teammates, coaches, and other players.
Meet Lance Franklin
Lance Franklin was born in Perth in 1987, to a sporting family. His father played hockey for Melbourne and Western Australia, and his sister Bianca Giteau played netball for the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Not to mention, his uncle is none other than footballer Derek Kickett.
Lance earned himself a sports scholarship and attended Wesley College in Perth. He played just one game for the Perth Football Club in 2004, and also represented Western Australia in the AFL Under 18 Championships.
In 2005, he made his debut with Hawthorn after attending draft camp. Within a year, he was making a name for himself as a high goal scorer, and signing on for a two-year contract with the club. Over the next couple of decades, he would go on to score over 1,000 goals, often landing more than 50 goals in a season.
He was selected for the All-Australian team on eight separate occasions, and was the team captain in 2018. Despite being plagued by injuries throughout his career, Lance quickly became a much-loved player and well-respected sportsman.