If Lance Franklin boots his 1000th major on Saturday, don’t run onto the field unless you are prepared to stump up a lot of cash.
The AFL will warn fans that they could be slugged a hefty fine if they follow one of the traditions of the game and swarm onto the field for the milestone moment.
Franklin needs five goals to become just the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to achieve the feat and the first since Gary Ablett snr did so 26 years ago.
Tony Lockett, Gordon Coventry, Jason Dunstall and Doug Wade are the only other members of the 1000 club.
Accor Stadium’s policy is a $5500 fine for ground invaders during sporting events and extra security is being planned for Saturday’s Sydney derby against the Giants.
The AFL is likely to usher Franklin straight from the field once he gets his 1000th goal like they did when he booted his 100th in the 2008 season back when he was playing for Hawthorn.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan did not seem too worried about fans running on for Buddy’s big moment, telling AFL 360 on Tuesday night: ““Well, officially, you shouldn’t run on the ground, but it would be a good look, wouldn’t it?
“Leave [the players] alone. I can’t endorse but it wouldn’t be the worst. It’s just a big deal to have 1000 goals. Who knows when it happens again?”
McLachlan added he wouldn’t be surprised if Franklin was moved back if he kicked four against the Giants, alluding to the fact the Swans are back at the SCG for a home game in Round 2 against Geelong next Friday.
Nick Daicos’ AFL debut is a shining light among several selection posers for Collingwood ahead of their season opener against St Kilda.
Former Western Bulldogs onballer Pat Lipinski will also play his first official match for the Magpies after overcoming an ankle injury.
But the Magpies have lost Will Hoskin-Elliott to COVID-19 protocols, while assistant coaches Brendon Bolton and Josh Fraser are also isolating at home.
New coach Craig McRae confirmed the debuts for Daicos and Lipinski at the end of Wednesday morning training. Daicos, the son of Magpies great Peter Daicos, has enjoyed an outstanding pre-season after he was recruited with the No.4 pick in last November’s national draft.
“We certainly know what he can bring to the table. He’s had a great pre-season,” McRae said. “He’s an elite decision-maker. He has the ability to see the game that maybe others don’t see and his skill execution is really high. So they’re good attributes, aren’t they.
“I didn’t talk about Nick the footballer (at training), I talked about Nick the person and Nick the person is just high character, high workrate, really professional and an engaging young man.”
The Western Bulldogs will become the first beaten AFL grand finalists in 13 years to watch on as the reigning premiers unfurl their flag in front of them.
The 2022 AFL season kicks off at the MCG on Wednesday night, with Melbourne to celebrate their first premiership in 57 years in a rematch of last year’s decider against the Bulldogs.
It will be an emotional occasion for Victorian-based Demons supporters, who were forced to watch last year’s grand final at Perth’s Optus Stadium from lockdown.
Demons legends Ron Barassi, Garry Lyon, Todd Viney, David Neitz and Nathan Jones will take part in the club’s flag unfurling in front of a crowd of up to 80,000.
A bizarre storyline has bubbled away over summer about the Bulldogs players being upset about the Demons singing 1990s dance anthem ‘Freed From Desire’ after the grand final victory.
“It’s a song that everyone sings; you see the Australian cricket team sing it, other teams from around the world,” Demons coach Simon Goodwin said.
“It was certainly no disrespect to the Western Bulldogs one bit, it was part of a 50-song playlist with a lot of celebration that was going on.”
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