LANCE Franklin has joined an elite club at the MCG on Sunday afternoon, booting his 500th career goal in the first quarter against Greater Western Sydney.

The Hawthorn star needed just 19 minutes to kick the two goals needed to reach the milestone.

Click here to watch the best of Lance Franklin's 500 AFL goals

His first came courtesy of a pinpoint pass from Cyril Rioli, which Franklin marked and then slotted with a set shot from 30 metres.

Just a minute later the Coleman Medal leader was held in a marking contest by his direct opponent Phil Davis and again kicked truly from the set shot.

The 25-year-old, playing his 156th career game, received a standing ovation from Hawks fans upon kicking the goal.

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown, his Fremantle counterpart Matthew Pavlich and Saints Stephen Milne and Nick Riewoldt have also passed the mark this season.

Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead, drafted alongside Franklin in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft, paid glowing tribute to his long-time teammate and friend.

"To do it at 25, it almost takes your breath away," Roughead said.

"You see blokes like Milne and Riewoldt kicking 500 this year, and they've been around for 11 or 12 years.

"So for 'Bud' to do it in eight, I'd hate to see what he's going to do in the next four or five.

"He could be 'Plugger' (all-time leading goalkicker Tony Lockett) or someone like that."

Franklin is the 53rd player in VFL/AFL history to reach the 500-goal milestone and just the fifth Hawk, joining Jason Dunstall, Leigh Matthews, Peter Hudson and Michael Moncrieff.

At 25 year, 159 days, he is the seventh-youngest in history to kick 500, only 13 days older than Essendon great John Coleman when he achieved the feat.

And he is the 10th fastest to the mark from the day of his debut, taking seven years, 103 days, 55 days longer than Bomber Matthew Lloyd.

The West Australian is also just the second Indigenous player to kick 500 goals after Sydney Swans champion Michael O’Loughlin, a point not lost on Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson.

"It's a pretty special performance, and particularly special too because he's an Aboriginal boy, and I don't think too many guys of that background have had that sort of impact in front of the sticks," Clarkson said.

"They've had plenty of great players who have played in other positions, but none who has been as dominant as what he's been in front of the sticks.

"Hopefully he can forge on and continue to make a great contribution for our club."

Franklin added a further two goals for the game, taking his tally to four, before being subbed off with a cork in the third quarter.

He now has 51 goals in 2012 and looks a near certainty to claim a third Coleman Medal, with nearest rival Jack Riewoldt well back on 39.