Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin and his wife Jesinta are expecting their first child.

The couple announced the news on Jesinta’s app on Tuesday afternoon, writing that they were “so incredibly excited and overjoyed”.

“The journey to get here hasn’t been easy and this little life is the greatest gift and we feel truly blessed and grateful that we will have a little angel of our own,” the post read.

“We have both dreamt of this for a long time and whilst the last 2.5 years have been physically and emotionally challenging, there’s nothing we would change as it’s brought us to this beautiful moment.

“The immense love we already have for our baby is indescribable and we can’t wait to meet our little miracle.”

Franklin, from the wheatbelt town of Dowerin, played his 300th AFL game at the weekend, kicking four goals as Sydney’s season ended against St Kilda.

He and Jesinta were married in the Blue Mountains in 2016, two years after he moved from Hawthorn to Sydney as a free agent to be with her.