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Sunday, December 22, 2024

Brilliant Buddy kicks 1000th goal as fans stream onto the SCG

The SCG turned into a sea of red-and-white as Sydney superstar Lance Franklin booted his 1000th career goal in the Swans’ 30-point AFL victory over Geelong.

The 35-year-old became just the sixth VFL/AFL player to achieve the milestone when he slotted his fourth goal on Friday night in the round-two game against the Cats.

The match was stopped with Sydney leading by 38 points and just six minutes remaining as thousands of supporters stormed onto the ground.

Franklin took more than 10 minutes to leave the field as delirious fans mobbed him amid extraordinary scenes that may never happen again in the AFL.

The game restarted after a 33-minute break as the Swans went to a 2-0 record, running out winners 17.5 (107) to 10.17 (77) in front of 36,578 fans.

“That was one of the most special moments you’d probably get, certainly I can look back on,” Swans coach John Longmire said.

“I just said to the players after the game we were all privileged to (play alongside) and, in my instance, coach Lance.

“Also the players he has played with over the years, both at Sydney and Hawthorn.”

Sydney powered away with a seven-goal second quarter and the Cats could never get close enough to mount a serious challenge.

Franklin started the match with 996 goals to his name, but he edged closer to the mark by nailing a set-shot from the pocket just before quarter-time.

He had a quiet second term before being handed a soft free-kick midway through the third quarter that he converted from about 20m out.

Franklin’s third was a powerful kick from 50m directly in front, raising his hands in delight to the roaring crowd.

The historic 1000th came late in the last quarter as he put through a set shot after being set-up by young gun Chad Warner.

The Cats jumped Sydney early with majors to unlikely goal-kicker Jake Kolodjashnij and fellow defender Zach Tuohy, but it was a Swans onslaught after that.

Heeney backed up his three-goal effort in a win over GWS with a scintillating five-goal performance to be the most dominant player on the field.

The 25-year was unstoppable all night, blowing the game open in the second quarter by kicking three goals as Geelong had no answer for Heeney’s heroics.

After belting Essendon around the clearances last week, Geelong’s midfielders were shown up as the Swans set up numerous goals from centre bounces.

Star forward Jeremy Cameron, who was involved in a heavy collision against the Bombers and was in doubt to play against the Swans, struggled to have an influence on the contest with 0.3 and 17 touches.

Small forward Brad Close was Geelong’s best player, finishing with a career-best four goals.

“It was bit of a strange game from our perspective in that we thought the conditions were good early but almost looked like a wet weather game for us,” Cats coach Chris Scott said.

“The problem was it didn’t look like a wet weather game for them and the way they handled the ball.”

Sydney will have just six days off before facing the under-fire Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, while Geelong’s round three assignment is a clash with Collingwood at the MCG on April 2.

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