AFL

Where Does Buddy Franklin Sit Among The All-Time Greats Of The Game?

Buddy Franklin after kicking his 1000th goal as a Swan, and after kicking his 13th goal against North Melbourne in 2012 as a Hawk. Digitally altered image

With Buddy Franklin playing the 350th game of a glittering career against St Kilda tonight, the Midweek Rub crew asked the big question — where does he sit among the pantheon of all time greats?

WHERE IS BUDDY FRANKLIN AMONGST THE ALL TIME GREATS?:

“What I’ll say is, when he gets instant qualification for the Hall of Fame, it should be a consideration to make him a legend immediately,” Damian Barrett said.

“I know they don’t do that after the initial intake of it, and there’s a lot of good names who are yet to be legends officially.

“So maybe it won’t happen, but he’s gonna be there.”

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Daisy Thomas said Bud is the “top handful in the modern game” and that there was a case to mount that he’s top 20 of all time.

Joey Montagna was even more effusive in his praise, saying he feels Buddy is top 5 ever.

“I’m thinking top five,” he said.

“I can’t see why he’s not in the same bracket as Wayne Carey, Leigh Matthews…. I think he sits right up at that upper echelon.”

MORE ON BUDDY FRANKLIN: Steve Johnson’s Hilarious Story About Matching Up On Buddy Franklin On A Wing

Earlier on the Sunday Rub, Daisy Thomas and Joey Montagna also shared stories about playing against Franklin, with Daisy telling a priceless story about Bud helping get him into a nightclub when he was 16 (and Buddy was 17!).

Joey, meanwhile, reckons he still has a handprint from a monster fend off from Bud at a stoppage at the SCG that turned into one of his hundreds of left foot snaps.

Steve Johnson also chimed in, telling us about a game where he found himself lined up against Buddy on a wing that ended with Bud telling Stevie J he’s “an arrogant prick”.

MORE ON BUDDY FRANKLIN: Daisy Thomas’s Story About Buddy Franklin Getting Him Into A Nightclub As A 16 Year Old

Buddy plays his 350th game on tonight against St Kilda at the SCG, another achievement to add to his glittering CV.

In the 349 games he’s played until now, Buddy has 1057 goals — the equal fifth most ever with Doug Wade — to go with 8 All-Australian blazers, 4 Coleman Medals, 2 flags, 2 goals of the year, 13 leading goalkicker awards (6 as a Hawk, 7 as a Swan), and a best and fairest at Hawthorn.

On Thursday he becomes just the 22nd man to play 350 games, and the fourth Indigenous player after Shaun Burgoyne, Adam Goodes, Eddie Betts.

You’ll be able to listen stream Triple M’s call of the game — and every other match this season — live on the the LiSTNR app.