The SCG turned into a sea of red-and-white as Sydney superstar Lance Franklin booted his 1000th career goal in the Swans' 30-point AFL victory over Geelong.
The 35-year-old became just the sixth VFL/AFL player to achieve the milestone when he slotted his fourth goal on Friday night in the round-two game against the Cats.
The match was stopped with Sydney leading by 38 points and just six minutes remaining as thousands of supporters stormed onto the ground.
The Noongar man took more than 10 minutes to leave the field as delirious fans mobbed him amid extraordinary scenes that may never happen again in the AFL.
The game restarted after a 33-minute break as the Swans went to a 2-0 record, running out winners 17.5 (107) to 10.17 (77) in front of 36,578 fans.
Speaking on the post-match broadcast, Franklin said it was an "amazing moment."
“A lot of hard work to get there. Been playing for 18 years. A lot of hard work to get there but I wouldn’t be able to get there without having great teammates around me to provide those assists,” he said.
“I had the taste of Carlton Draught in my mouth from someone. It was an amazing moment. Something I will cherish forever.”
His coach John Longmire was also proud to be a part of the historic occasion.
Buddy Franklin applauds the crowd as he leaves the field after scoring his 1000th goal. Source: AAP
"That was one of the most special moments you'd probably get, certainly I can look back on," he said.
"I just said to the players after the game we were all privileged to (play alongside) and, in my instance, coach Lance.
"Also the players he has played with over the years, both at Sydney and Hawthorn."
Sydney powered away with a seven-goal second quarter and the Cats could never get close enough to mount a serious challenge.
Franklin started the match with 996 goals to his name, but he edged closer to the mark by nailing a set-shot from the pocket just before quarter-time.
He had a quiet second term before being handed a soft free-kick midway through the third quarter that he converted from about 20m out.
Franklin's third was a powerful kick from 50m directly in front, raising his hands in delight to the roaring crowd.
The historic 1000th came late in the last quarter as he put through a set shot after being set-up by young gun Chad Warner.
"A couple of the players, I think Chad Warner and Oli Florent, were walking down Driver Avenue [outside the SCG] in their footy boots because they went out another exit and couldn't get back into the changerooms across the ground."
Warner will also go down in folklore as the Sydney player that kicked the ball to Franklin for a mark and set shot that turned out to be his 1000th career goal.
"For those young blokes, what a great moment to be a part of that," Longmire said.
Buddy Franklin is congratulated by Swans coach John Longmire. Source: AAP
