Damian Barrett says that retiring Hawthorn and Sydney superstar Lance “Buddy” Franklin should be awarded instant Legend status in the AFL Hall of Fame.
DAMO ON BUDDY FRANKLIN GETTING INSTANT LEGEND STATUS IN THE HALL OF FAME:
“It’s always a sad moment when it comes,” Damo said of Buddy’s retirement on the Rush Hour with JB & Billy.
“But it shouldn’t be, because it is then cause and pause for reflection on what was, in my eyes, an instant Legend status Hall of Fame career.
“Now I don’t say that lightly, because there’s only 31 of them, and they usually have to wait some years.
“In fact, there’s only been two prior to him who have actually been made Legends prior to the age of 50 — that’s Leigh Matthews and Tony Lockett.
“Leigh Matthews was put in there in the first induction at the age of 49… I feel he [Buddy] is worth of being in that.
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Buddy’s list of achievements is truly remarkable: he played 354 games, ended as the fourth highest goal scorer of all time with 1066, was All-Australian 8 times, and won 8 Coleman Medals.
He was the the leading goal kicker at Hawthorn 6 times and Sydney 7 times, was awarded Goal of the Year twice, and won a best and fairest at Hawthorn.
He kicked 113 goals in 2008, and won premierships with the Hawks in 2008 and 2013.
He was just the sixth man to kick 1000 goals.
Buddy was responsible for many iconic moments, including the 100th goal in 2008, his 1000th goal at the SCG last year, and a memorable bag of 13 against North Melbourne in Launceston in 2012.
Check out Triple M Footy’s call of that iconic 1000th goal here:
There was also an amazing final winning goal for Hawthorn against Adelaide as a 20 year old, two famous goals where he burnt off Cale Hooker on the run and finished from the boundary, and a goal where he hurdled a prone player and kicked a goal on the run from 75 metres.
Check out Triple M Footy’s Call of Buddy Franklin’s 100th goal in 2008 here:
Damo, JB and Billy reminisced on Buddy’s remarkable career further and discussed some of the biggest issues in footy, including the AFL’s Please Explain to Port Adelaide, the disappointing Dogs and more.
FULL CHAT WITH DAMO:
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