Buddy’s footy career ‘officially done’ after Dowerin return
The legendary Lance “Buddy” Franklin has declared his football career is “officially done” after a remarkable game for his junior side on Saturday.
thewest.com.auI don’t have live access to the latest updates right now, but here’s what’s publicly known about Buddy Franklin’s age and recent context.
- Buddy Franklin, whose full name is Lance Franklin, was born on October 16, 1986, which would make him 39 years old as of 2025 and 39 turning 40 in 2026. This is based on his well-documented birth date and career timelines.
- Recent headlines (through 2024–2025) covered his retirement from AFL in 2023 after a long, storied career, with later mentions of post-football projects and occasional comebacks at junior levels or special appearances, but his official AFL playing status has been retirement since 2023.
- In early 2026 there were speculative or niche reports about possible returns to play at junior levels or community clubs in Western Australia, but no widely verified AFL-level return as of the latest public records.
If you’d like, I can pull in the most up-to-date details from reliable outlets and provide exact dates and quotes. Would you like me to look for current sources now?