Sydney fans have given Lance Franklin a rousing send-off as the retired great completed a lap of honour at half-time of the AFL match against Melbourne.
The Swans faithful cheered, clapped and waved passionately to pay tribute to an emotional Franklin who was seen to shed a tear as he walked around the SCG boundary line with his wife Jesinta and their two children on Sunday.
His former coach at Hawthorn, Alastair Clarkson, was watching intently from the grandstand as his protégé received a standing ovation from a packed house at the ground where he created so many memorable moments.
“It’s come to an end and I feel incredibly grateful to have played this game for 19 years. I’m a little overwhelmed,” he told Channel Seven.
“There is a lot of hard work goes into it, a long time playing footy.
“It’s absolutely incredibly to be here and see our fans out here today. It is absolutely awesome.”
Franklin was stepping back into the public eye for the first time since announcing his retirement with immediate effect on July 31 after sustaining a calf injury against Essendon two days earlier.
The former Sydney and Hawthorn forward did not attend the press conference that confirmed his retirement, with Swans coach John Longmire and chief executive Tom Harley fronting up to honour him.
But fans embraced the opportunity to show Franklin their appreciation of a remarkable career that included 172 matches in 10 seasons with the Swans after 182 games for Hawthorn.
Spectators were also able to write messages of thanks to their retiring hero on a wall outside the Swans’ headquarters a short walk away from their home turf.
“Coming from the bush in Western Australia, I probably never thought this is possible,” Franklin said.
“As I said, to play 19 years, at two great clubs, I am very proud.”
After debuting in 2005, Franklin kicked 1,066 goals in 354 matches to sit fourth on the list of the all-time leading VFL/AFL goalkickers.
The spearhead set off wild scenes at the SCG last season when he became just the sixth player to reach 1,000 VFL/AFL goals.
Franklin won two premierships with Hawthorn before moving to Sydney on a landmark nine-year deal.
The 36-year-old is an eight-time All-Australian and a four-time Coleman Medal winner.
ABC/AAP
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