Lance Franklin’s 1,000th goal milestone made Australian sporting history on Friday night. Images of the crowd rushing the field and the subsequent wholesome and quirky stories of post-goal mayhem will never be erased from sports folklore. And rightly so. This was a beautiful and well handled celebration. There was no downside. A joyous, much needed moment for us all.
I would be lying, however, if I said I wasn’t a little jealous of the milestones celebrated in men’s football. It’s the jealousy of a sports fan who knows no achievement of a woman in sport that isn’t accompanied by the cynicism or grumbling of a disapproving commentariat. Buddy was roundly celebrated, and those least interested were at least silent. No such respect is afforded to women and non-binary folk in football.
