Buddy Franklin announces shock retirement
Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin has finally walked away from the game. Here's everything you need to know about the conclusion to the legend's career.
www.esquire.com.auHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reporting:
- Buddy Franklin, a long-time AFL star, announced his retirement in 2023 after a storied 354-game career and 1066 goals. However, there have been occasional reports in 2024–2026 about activities beyond formal AFL play, including retirement discussions and post-career projects.[2][6]
- In March 2026 there were outlets suggesting a possible comeback at a junior level in Western Australia, framing it as a return to roots rather than a full AFL return; these reports noted he intended to play a game at his junior club and pursue charitable objectives, but they did not indicate a return to AFL level.[3][6]
- Overall, the widely reported status since 2023 is that Buddy Franklin is retired from AFL competition, with sporadic interest in non-AFL football or media projects, but no confirmed AFL comeback as of the latest coverage in 2026.[6][2]
If you’d like, I can pull the latest direct articles and summarize them with links. Would you prefer I focus on AFL-level status only, or also include post-retirement activities and media appearances?
Note: This answer references ongoing reporting from several outlets, including Esquire Australia’s retirement coverage and related AFL news articles from 2023–2026.[2][3][6]