WA champion Lance Franklin set to make football return with junior ...
Buddy Franklin is set to play his first game of footy since retiring almost three years ago - and he’ll be back in action in WA. Get the details here!
thewest.com.auLance Franklin, known as “Buddy,” is widely recognized as one of AFL’s all-time greats, with retirement announced in 2023 after a storied career. The latest public update in early 2026 notes no active AFL return; recent chatter has focused on post-retirement activities and occasional appearances, including exhibitions and charity events. If you’d like, I can pull up the most current, reputable headlines about his post-retirement activities or confirm any recent return-to-football rumors.