The Sydney Morning Herald logo

Lance Franklin

Advertisement
Swans recruit Charlie Curnow.

‘He’s a massive presence’: Why Swans recruit Curnow is already being compared to Franklin

Errol Gulden is back stronger than ever after his 2025 season was ruined by an ankle injury, and he is delighted with what he’s seeing from key forward Charlie Curnow.

  • Jonathan Drennan

Latest

Jeremy Cameron, Gary Ablett jnr and Jack Riewoldt in their draft years before they became AFL stars.

From teens to titans: How 16 of the AFL’s biggest names looked in their draft year

Some are unrecognisable, others haven’t changed a bit. We revisited these stars to see what they looked like and what was said about them as AFL wannabes.

  • Greg Dundas
The Saints will welcome Tom De Koning in 2026 and welcome back Max King after another injury-riddled season.

St Kilda’s recruiting splurge: The one real risk behind aggressive strategy

St Kilda are perfectly placed to land five new players and may get a handy pick for Rowan Marshall who wants to be traded to Geelong. There might be some risk but only to the reputation of those in charge.

  • Peter Ryan
Lance Franklin at a rare media appearance on Tuesday.

Buddy’s advice for Jamarra; Blues prepare for Coleman medallist’s return; Gawn defends Goodwin

At a rare media appearance, Lance “Buddy” Franklin addressed the situation surrounding the star Bulldog. Meanwhile, Harry McKay could return as soon as this week for Carlton’s crunch clash with the red, white and blue.

  • Peter Ryan, Andrew Wu and Jon Pierik
John Longmire

There’s no escaping the grand final failures. They’re not what define John Longmire

Some may label John Longmire a four-time grand final day failure. But that’s not how Sydney Swans fans will look back on his remarkable 14-year tenure.

  • Vince Rugari
Lance Franklin in Sydney to launch Hahn Ultra Zero Carb beer

‘Once I’d finished up, I felt relief’: Buddy embraces life after the Swans

On a rare return to Sydney, Lance Franklin opens up on life after the AFL and the prospects for his former team.

  • Jonathan Drennan
Advertisement
g

How the NRL’s Vegas gamble has given a huge free kick to the AFL

In an early vindication of the AFL’s decision to launch 2024 in the northern states, some 115,000 fans are anticipated to pour through the turnstiles in NSW and Queensland for the start of the season.

  • Andrew Wu
Some of the memorable images of Australian sport in 2023.

Let’s get quizzical: 50 questions on the year in sport

Test your mental muscle or put your mates in the hot seat. It’s time to find out who is the font of knowledge on all things sport in 2023 by taking our 50-question super-quiz.

  • Greg Dundas and Claire Siracusa
Shohei Ohtani.

More valuable than Messi? Why a Japanese baseballer is worth $1 billion

If you tallied up the salaries of every men’s NRL player for the next four years, it still wouldn’t match what Shohei Ohtani will earn from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Why is he so valuable?

  • Adam Pengilly
Artist impression of the Lance Franklin mural which would be painted on the wall of 485 South Dowling Street, Surry Hills.

Art or advertising? Why Clover Moore won’t budge on Buddy Franklin mural

A rejected artwork depicting Swans great Lance Franklin has opened a debate about whether Sydney has too many murals of male sports stars.

  • Michael Koziol