Buddy Up Against It To Crack 1000 Goals In 2019

If Sydney superstar Lance Franklin wants to become just the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to kick 1000 goals next year, he will need to do something he has only done once before in his glittering career – kick at least 83 goals in a season.

Franklin currently sits in eighth spot on the all-time list with 917 career goals - nine behind seventh-placed Essendon sharpshooter Matthew Lloyd (926) and 53 off sixth-placed Richmond legend Jack Titus (970).

While it seems inevitable that the eight-time All-Australian will crack four figures, he will need to produce one of his best ever seasons next year at the age of 32 if he wants to do it in 2019.

The only time Franklin kicked a minimum of 83 goals was back in 2008 when he booted 113 majors, helping guide Hawthorn to a shock premiership in the process. 

Franklin’s three next-best years were 2011 (82 goals), 2016 (81) and 2014 (79). Last year was the four-time Coleman Medalist’s fourth-worst year with just 57 goals to his credit.

While history suggests he may just miss out on joining the 1000 club in 2019, he should overtake Lloyd and Titus and move up to sixth on the all-time list next year.

The five players to crack 1000 goals were Tony Lockett (1360), Gordon Coventry (1299), Jason Dunstall (1254), Doug Wade (1057) and Gary Ablett senior (1031).