With Lance Franklin set to chalk up his 250th tonight, we thought we'd pay tribute to the brilliant 182 games 'Buddy' amassed in the brown and gold.
Here are Buddy's top three Hawthorn performances.
Elimination Final, 2007 vs Adelaide at Etihad Stadium
It was Franklin’s first final. Up against an experienced Adelaide Crows side that had made the preliminary final the year previous.
Franklin had enjoyed a spectacular, break-out home and away season where he kicked 63 goals.
With the game looking out of reach as the Crows lead by three points with only seconds left, the Hawks needed a superstar.
Franklin, who had already kicked six goals, burst out on a lead to take a mark 50 metres out on the left forward flank.
Exhibiting a level of composure that belied his 20 years of age, Franklin calmly slotted through his seventh, snatching victory from the Crows and announcing himself as a true superstar of the competition.
Round 22, 2008 vs Carlton at Etihad Stadium
Entering the final game of the home and away season, Franklin required two goals to reach the 100-goal mark.
Amazingly, Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola also had the miraculous milestone in his sights, although he needed an eight-goal haul to secure it.
As it happened, Fevola fell cruelly short, managing to kick seven and finish on 99.
But Franklin didn’t waste any time, kicking his second before quarter time in what could potentially be the last time the game sees a player achieve the 100-goal feat in a home and away season.
Round 10, 2012 vs North Melbourne at University of Tasmania Stadium
Under pressure is where Franklin has built his superstar reputation and this game was arguably the greatest example of it.
After kicking only two goals in the previous two weeks and coming under severe public scrutiny for his goal-kicking inaccuracy, Franklin went down to Tasmania with an expectation to perform.
And perform he did, kicking 13 goals in one of the most dominant individual displays in the history of the game.
North Melbourne defenders had no answer for Buddy’s brilliance, as he had kicked six goals by half-time, 10 by the last break and 13 at the final siren.
Read: What does social media have to say ahead of our Round 3 clash?
