Alastair Clarkson was still an unheralded Port Adelaide assistant coach and YouTube had yet to be invented, yet grainy internet video of a rangy 17-year-old kicking the winning goal for Western Australia in an under-18 championships match at Simonds Stadium was already being shared by desperate Hawthorn fans in the hope he might be their club's saviour.
To borrow a line from a sappy wedding speech, Hawthorn fans loved Buddy before they even knew him.
Promise of instant success lures Franklin to Swans
In the ensuing years, few players have given supporters more of a reason to come to the footy each week to watch their team.
In round two of 2005 at the MCG against Richmond (the club that twice passed on him at the draft), Franklin kicked a freakish running goal of his own from outside 50 metres on the wrong side for a left footer that cheered Hawk fans considerably.
Three weeks later he kicked a long distance running goal after bursting through the middle of the ground against the powerful Brisbane Lions, which helped spark Clarkson's first win as coach of the Hawks. It was the type of goal that would become his trademark.
Pretty much every year since, Franklin has delivered a clutch of highlights. Six goals against Richmond in Launceston in 2006 was probably the 'sliding doors' moment, proving once and for all that the Hawks had got it right, and the Tigers not so much, at the draft 18 months before.
In the ensuing years, few players have given supporters more of a reason to come to the footy each week to watch their team.
In round two of 2005 at the MCG against Richmond (the club that twice passed on him at the draft), Franklin kicked a freakish running goal of his own from outside 50 metres on the wrong side for a left footer that cheered Hawk fans considerably.
Three weeks later he kicked a long distance running goal after bursting through the middle of the ground against the powerful Brisbane Lions, which helped spark Clarkson's first win as coach of the Hawks. It was the type of goal that would become his trademark.
Pretty much every year since, Franklin has delivered a clutch of highlights. Six goals against Richmond in Launceston in 2006 was probably the 'sliding doors' moment, proving once and for all that the Hawks had got it right, and the Tigers not so much, at the draft 18 months before.
Franklin celebrates one of his six goals against Richmond in Launceston in 2006. Picture: AFL Media
In 2007 Franklin engraved his name in Hawthorn lore forever: first with a nine-goal haul against hated rival Essendon and then with the match-winner in the elimination final against Adelaide. With that one kick, the rest of football came to discover Hawthorn's little secret – that Franklin, like John Peck, Don Scott and Dermott Brereton before him, was the latest star to wear No.23 for the Hawks.
His stocks rose even further in 2008 – a flag, a Coleman Medal, a century of goals and the club best and fairest. He was the biggest name in the game.
2010 brought those unforgettable goals against Essendon, in 2011 he almost singlehandedly dragged the Hawks into the Grand Final despite a knee injury in the opening final, while last year delivered the piece de resistance, the 13-goal haul against North Melbourne in Tasmania.
This year, perhaps as a portent of things to come, the Hawks have been less reliant on Franklin to kick scores, but his work up the ground and the sacrifices he has made to his own game have been those of a mature footballer, desperate for team success.
But he still delivered the 2013 goal of the year, the running, leaping effort against Collingwood in round three and a prime-time, eight-goal haul against the Bombers, just for old times' sake.
For all the on-field exhilaration Franklin has given the Hawks over 182 games, there have been a series of dramas to keep everyone on edge, starting with those "rumours" that have dogged him for years and that don't need to be elaborated upon further here.
A magnet for the paparazzi and the gossip columnists, Franklin's high-profile and drama-filled romances have made news, as has his controversial fashion label and a few episodes when out and about on the town. On some occasions he has paid a high and unfortunate price for his celebrity; other times he has acted like a goose.
The same with the Tribunal appearances over the journey, of which there were a few too many for the Hawks to feel truly comfortable. Sometimes he brought his troubles upon himself (such as the round 23 clash with Nick Malceski this year), while at other times he was just plain stiff, such as when Ben Cousins stumbled into his path in 2009 and the two-match suspension that followed, when all Franklin did was brace for contact, probably cost the Hawks a finals berth.
In 2007 Franklin engraved his name in Hawthorn lore forever: first with a nine-goal haul against hated rival Essendon and then with the match-winner in the elimination final against Adelaide. With that one kick, the rest of football came to discover Hawthorn's little secret – that Franklin, like John Peck, Don Scott and Dermott Brereton before him, was the latest star to wear No.23 for the Hawks.
His stocks rose even further in 2008 – a flag, a Coleman Medal, a century of goals and the club best and fairest. He was the biggest name in the game.
2010 brought those unforgettable goals against Essendon, in 2011 he almost singlehandedly dragged the Hawks into the Grand Final despite a knee injury in the opening final, while last year delivered the piece de resistance, the 13-goal haul against North Melbourne in Tasmania.
This year, perhaps as a portent of things to come, the Hawks have been less reliant on Franklin to kick scores, but his work up the ground and the sacrifices he has made to his own game have been those of a mature footballer, desperate for team success.
But he still delivered the 2013 goal of the year, the running, leaping effort against Collingwood in round three and a prime-time, eight-goal haul against the Bombers, just for old times' sake.
For all the on-field exhilaration Franklin has given the Hawks over 182 games, there have been a series of dramas to keep everyone on edge, starting with those "rumours" that have dogged him for years and that don't need to be elaborated upon further here.
A magnet for the paparazzi and the gossip columnists, Franklin's high-profile and drama-filled romances have made news, as has his controversial fashion label and a few episodes when out and about on the town. On some occasions he has paid a high and unfortunate price for his celebrity; other times he has acted like a goose.
The same with the Tribunal appearances over the journey, of which there were a few too many for the Hawks to feel truly comfortable. Sometimes he brought his troubles upon himself (such as the round 23 clash with Nick Malceski this year), while at other times he was just plain stiff, such as when Ben Cousins stumbled into his path in 2009 and the two-match suspension that followed, when all Franklin did was brace for contact, probably cost the Hawks a finals berth.
Lucky 13: Franklin's huge haul in Tasmania left the hapless Roos reeling. Picture: AFL Media
The love affair cooled this year. His decision to put off contract talks until the end of the year stunned everyone. That the Hawks managed to win the premiership demonstrates it wasn't the distraction it was painted to be, but there was cause for the Hawk faithful to re-evaluate their heretofore unconditional love for the No.23.
His performance in the Grand Final was like so many this year – workmanlike and team-oriented. There was one near flash of brilliance, a shot for goal off one step in the final quarter after a handball from Cyril Rioli, but it slammed straight into the post. It was a metaphor for his year.
He didn't receive thunderous applause when he received his premiership medal. Instead, Jack Gunston and Brian Lake have joined Cyril Rioli, Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell as the darlings of the Hawthorn crowd.
Franklin's lingering farewell to the Hawthorn fans on the post-match lap of honour as well as at the Glenferrie and Aurora Stadium celebrations that followed appeared those of a man who was on his way out, although his emotional TV interview with Dermott Brereton post-match spoke volumes for the toll this decision must have taken.
Hawthorn people have been steeling themselves for this outcome all year, but they pictured Franklin in charcoal and orange. The thought of losing him to Greater Western Sydney made it that bit more palatable and with two flags and nine years of unbelievable highlights, he would have departed for the Giants leaving sadness in Hawk supporters' hearts but with their best wishes.
Losing him to the Swans, however, is different. They're not an expansion team; they're one of Hawthorn's biggest threats for the 2014 flag and the team many Hawthorn supporters argue were gifted an undeserved advantage before last year's Grand Final with the extra day's preparation.
And as for Franklin's desire to escape the Melbourne media 'fishbowl', he won’t exactly be out of the limelight once he gets to Sydney, where his cadre of rugby mates are among that city's most high-profile athletes and like Franklin in Melbourne, rarely out of the spotlight.
The love affair cooled this year. His decision to put off contract talks until the end of the year stunned everyone. That the Hawks managed to win the premiership demonstrates it wasn't the distraction it was painted to be, but there was cause for the Hawk faithful to re-evaluate their heretofore unconditional love for the No.23.
His performance in the Grand Final was like so many this year – workmanlike and team-oriented. There was one near flash of brilliance, a shot for goal off one step in the final quarter after a handball from Cyril Rioli, but it slammed straight into the post. It was a metaphor for his year.
He didn't receive thunderous applause when he received his premiership medal. Instead, Jack Gunston and Brian Lake have joined Cyril Rioli, Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell as the darlings of the Hawthorn crowd.
Franklin's lingering farewell to the Hawthorn fans on the post-match lap of honour as well as at the Glenferrie and Aurora Stadium celebrations that followed appeared those of a man who was on his way out, although his emotional TV interview with Dermott Brereton post-match spoke volumes for the toll this decision must have taken.
Hawthorn people have been steeling themselves for this outcome all year, but they pictured Franklin in charcoal and orange. The thought of losing him to Greater Western Sydney made it that bit more palatable and with two flags and nine years of unbelievable highlights, he would have departed for the Giants leaving sadness in Hawk supporters' hearts but with their best wishes.
Losing him to the Swans, however, is different. They're not an expansion team; they're one of Hawthorn's biggest threats for the 2014 flag and the team many Hawthorn supporters argue were gifted an undeserved advantage before last year's Grand Final with the extra day's preparation.
And as for Franklin's desire to escape the Melbourne media 'fishbowl', he won’t exactly be out of the limelight once he gets to Sydney, where his cadre of rugby mates are among that city's most high-profile athletes and like Franklin in Melbourne, rarely out of the spotlight.
Melbourne 'fishbowl' no worry: Franklin
But for all the hysteria, there are two points to be considered. The first is that the cost of living allowance that allows the Swans to recruit Franklin is an AFL initiative. The Swans have played within the rules and spectacularly so.
The other consideration is that the Hawks are super-competitive even without Franklin and have become the masters of targeting the right players from other clubs.
The combination of a $1 million salary cap hole and the smarts of list manager Graham Wright should put the frights into the rest of the competition.
Wright always gets his man. Who knows? It might take another year or so, but Hawthorn might eventually land a new big fish of its own, perhaps one worthy enough to be the next No.23.
But for all the hysteria, there are two points to be considered. The first is that the cost of living allowance that allows the Swans to recruit Franklin is an AFL initiative. The Swans have played within the rules and spectacularly so.
The other consideration is that the Hawks are super-competitive even without Franklin and have become the masters of targeting the right players from other clubs.
The combination of a $1 million salary cap hole and the smarts of list manager Graham Wright should put the frights into the rest of the competition.
Wright always gets his man. Who knows? It might take another year or so, but Hawthorn might eventually land a new big fish of its own, perhaps one worthy enough to be the next No.23.
Buddy's final haul as a Hawk was nine goals against - you guessed it - Essendon. Picture: AFL Media
Twitter: @afl_hashbrowne
Twitter: @afl_hashbrowne
