 After attending draft camp and showing promise, Hawthorn selected Franklin with their second pick, number five overall, in the 2004 AFL Draft.In a 2012 interview on the Fox Footy program "On the Couch", Franklin admitted that his "free spirit" probably scared a few clubs away from selecting him that year.Franklin made his debut in round 1 of the 2005 season against at the Sydney Cricket Ground and showed a strong presence up forward throughout the year, kicking 27 goals in 20 games.