Revealed: What made footy recluse Buddy Franklin step back into the limelight for the AFL in a VERY rare appearance

Lance Franklin has stayed away from football since retiring last July, but that is set to change when the AFL marquee makes a special guest appearance during Sunday’s Hawthorn-Sydney match at the MCG.

‘Buddy’ was last seen at a football match when he, his wife Jesinta and their children Rocky and Tallulah waved to fans as he completed a lap of honor during his emotional farewell at the SCG last August.

He even turned down the chance to be part of the traditional column of recently retired players at last year’s grand final.

Now he will send a half-time message to fans on the big screen as the two teams he played in do battle in Melbourne, and he will also attend a pre-match event.

The 37-year-old (pictured with his wife Jesinta) refused to join the retiring players’ column at the grand final last year, despite a personal request from then AFL boss Gillon McLachlan

“He’ll be back at the MCG on Sunday,” said footy reporter Mitch Cleary Channel seven.

‘Last year they couldn’t get him back for the motorcade on the grand final day, but he’s back [for] Hawthorn and Sydney.

“It’s been ten years since his first year at the Swans, he’s back this week.

‘He’ll be at the [club] president’s pre-game function for the Hawks, after which he will speak to members on the big screen at halftime.

“Ash Klein, the CEO of the Hawks, was the man to get this over the line.

“Not many people have been able to twist Buddy’s arm over the years, but they have been able to pull him over.”

After originally starring for Hawthorn (pictured), Buddy has excelled for the Swans – and will be there this weekend when his old teams face off in Melbourne

Last September, Franklin shocked football fans by turning down a place in the column of recently retired stars at the Collingwood versus Brisbane grand final.

“Buddy, we’d love to have you here on Saturday,” said ex-AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.

“100,000 supporters at the ‘G and millions of fans across Australia would like to say goodbye to you because you have been one of the greatest players the game has ever seen,” he continued.

“He is one of the most remarkable players we have seen and there has not been a bigger name in football for the last 20 years.”

However, Franklin’s former premiership-winning teammate Jordan Lewis confirmed Buddy would not make the trip.

He was invited to a Hawthorn event to mark the tenth anniversary of the 2013 premiership, but Franklin also declined to attend the gathering with old friends.

The football icon was visibly emotional when Swans fans gave him a rousing send-off last August

Franklin gave the game some of the best scenes in recent memory as he was swamped by thousands of fans after scoring his thousandth goal in March 2022 (pictured)

“I spoke to him on Tuesday and he didn’t make the trip down, that’s OK.”

Franklin was drafted by Hawthorn in 2004 and quickly established himself as a rare talent.

He scored 580 goals for the Hawks in 182 games, including the grand final wins of 2008 and 2013, before moving to Sydney in 2014 and scoring a further 172 goals for the Swans in 172 games.

Franklin fell just short of premiership glory with the Bloods on three occasions (losing the 2014, 2016 and 2022 grand finals), but compiled a stunning list of personal achievements, including becoming only sixth became a player who scored a thousand goals in his career.

The 37-year-old made the All-Australian team eight times, won four Coleman Medals as the competition’s best goalkeeper, won goal of the year twice and led his club’s goalscoring efforts by scoring an impressive 13 times.