Former captain of Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell, has paid tribute to the recently retired star who he called the "player of a generation, if not more".

Mitchell, current head coach at Hawthorn, led the club to their 2008 flag - the same year Franklin asserted himself beyond doubt as a defining figure in football.

A month before that year's grand final Buddy kicked his 100th goal of the home-and-away season against Carlton at Docklands Stadium. 15 years later he remains the last AFL player to crack the tonne in one season.

The pair won a second premiership together in 2013.

In the following off-season Franklin made his highly publicised move to Sydney.

He called time on his 354-game, 1066-goal career on Monday.

Speaking on Thursday, Mitchell reflected on playing alongside Franklin during the champion's tenure in brown and gold.

"I feel really privileged to have seen the part of his journey that I did," Mitchell said.

"I think a lot of us will remember when he first turned up as this skinny kid...an amazing athlete and didn't have a worry in the world and he could do fantastic things with a footy. You saw him go from that and into the great man and family man and father and icon of the game that he's become, and seeing how he grew into that and watching him do it to clubs."

Mitchell said he had "enormous respect" for Franklin's ability to perform under the microscope and pressure placed over the course of his career.

"Clearly he's a player of a generation, if not more. But on top of that, I just can't help but tip my lid to what he's been able to achieve off the field and how he's grown into being a great man."

Another former teammate of Buddy expressed similar sentiment earlier this week.

Four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis arrived at the club with Franklin as 2004 draft recruits.

Lewis told FoxFooty "he's the best player that I've seen and played with", and said he found continued joy watching Franklin's career from afar long after they played their final game together.

Similar to Sydney coach John Longmire's comments on Monday, Lewis applauded the four-time Coleman Medallist's guidance of younger players.

"His closeness and ability be able to relate to the younger blokes on our list was just incredible to watch," Lewis said

"I'm sure everyone that's been through those experiences with Lance over the last few years will look back on that and think 'Jeez, that was pretty that was pretty cool to be part of that."

"He took a genuine interest in other players' careers as much as he did himself."

Lewis went on to remark that Franklin's on-field exploits were equalled by his intent at training.

Franklin retires sitting fourth on the all-time VFL/AFL goal kicking list, and arguably the most celebrated player of the 21st century.