Author(s): Sam Harvey

Ball Sports | New Releases August 2023

The name Buddy is synonymous with Lance Franklin. Every Australian rules footy fanatic knows the name Buddy with the names reverence in Australia akin to Pele in Brazil or Magic Johnson in the States. A reclusive celebrity who loves nothing more than staying far away from the limelight, Buddys brightness shines on the field. Since he passed the magical 100-goal mark in 2008, only two forwards have been able to kick 80 goals or more in the home and away season and the fact that hes also kicked 84 behinds. In modern Australian Rules Footy, with a full team defence, zoning, and intercept defenders, the one hundred threshold has become practically impossible. Will Buddy be the Last Centurion? One may also ask, is Buddy the greatest forward the game has ever seen?