LANCE Franklin has described winning the 2008 Coleman Medal as an absolute honour in his acceptance speech at Monday night's All-Australian dinner.

The quietly spoken Hawthorn forward, now known affectionately to all and sundry as 'Buddy', booted his 100th goal in round 22 against Carlton causing a massive ground invasion and temporary pandemonium at Telstra Dome.

He held off Brendan Fevola (seven goals on the night, 99 for the year) in an exciting shootout to take his first Coleman Medal and finished the home-and-away season on 102 goals. He booted eight in the qualifying final against the Western Bulldogs to now have a tally of 110 for the year.

Franklin said kicking the ton was a moment he'd never forget.

"I'm very proud to win this award and it's an honour," he said at Monday night's gala dinner in Melbourne's Docklands

"It was an exhilarating rush. It went so quickly to be honest. I just remember kicking the goal and everybody running out … it was a special moment."

Franklin said with a smile he was glad teammate Jarryd Roughead was there to protect him when the crowd rushed onto the playing arena.

'Buddy' is the first player to reach triple figures in a home-and-away season since Tony Lockett – the game's greatest goalkicker – reached the ton in 1998 for the Sydney Swans.

His nine-goal haul against Essendon in round 11 was his best feat for the season.

He also bagged two lots of eight goals against the Brisbane Lions (round five) and Collingwood (round 18).

Since making his AFL debut in 2005, Franklin has kicked 235 goals, with 73 majors coming last year, 31 during 2006 and 21 in his first season.