Outgoing AFL chief Gill McLachlan used a press conference on Wednesday to issue a public plea to Lance 'Buddy' Franklin.
Franklin announced his retirement from the game in July, days after hobbling off the field injured in what would be his last appearance for the Swans.
It ended one of the all-time astonishing careers in the sport, which included 354 top-grade games and 1066 goals – the fourth in VFL/AFL history.
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A month later Franklin and his family had the opportunity to farewell the Sydney Cricket Ground and the Swans faithful, performing a lap of honour and waving goodbye to the red and white fans.
And this Saturday he has another opportunity to say goodbye to the game, this time at the MCG on grand final day as part of the traditional motorcade.
But as of Wednesday morning McLachlan remained unsure whether Franklin would accept the AFL's invitation for a farewell.
"Buddy, we'd love you to be here on Saturday," McLachlan said.
"100,000 supporters at the 'G and millions of fans Australia-wide would love to say goodbye to you because you've been one of the greatest players the game has seen.
"He's one of the most remarkable players we have seen and there's been no bigger name in football over the last 20 years.
"I think the fans would love to see him and send him off appropriately in as many ways as they can."
Swans icon and fellow Indigenous champion Adam Goodes turned down the grand final motorcade after he retired in 2015, having been booed relentlessly in the latter stages of his incredible career, particularly in Melbourne.
The reasons for a potential Franklin snub on Saturday are unclear, although the 36-year-old is famously shy of media and the public spotlight.
So much so he even refused to front his own retirement press conference two months ago, leaving Swans coach John Longmire to explain his absence.
"I just ask everyone to respect the fact he just doesn't like these situations," Longmire said of Franklin.
"I guess you have to respect that because he's been a superstar of the game and he's in a situation where he's most comfortable at a footy ground.
"Everyone sees the way he walks around a footy ground and (they) think it's him 24 hours a day (but) he's very shy, he's very humble.
"He's not silly, he understands his spot in the game but he's just very humble and very private."
Franklin also reportedly opted to skip a Hawthorn premiership reunion function this week.
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