Lara and Jesinta's love triangle

AFL star Buddy Franklin is also scoring heavily off the field.

He is AFL football’s pin-up boy, and now Woman’s Day can reveal that Lance “Buddy” Franklin is also apparently more than just friends with two of Australia’s hottest young models. The Hawthorn sharpshooter and beauty queen-turned-TV star Jesinta Campbell have been enjoying a casual fling in recent weeks.

Apparently unbeknown to Jesinta, 21, our insider claims that Buddy, 26, has also recently hooked up with his long-time friend Lara Bingle, 25. He spent a casual evening with Lara following the Portsea Polo event on the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne, according to sources.However, far from being broken-hearted over the footy hunk, Lara is reportedly now dating Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis after recently breaking up with her boyfriend of a year, Gareth Moody.

Our source explains Jesinta fell for Buddy shortly after they met at the AFL’s Brownlow Medal presentation in late September. “Jesinta was absolutely besotted with Buddy,” the insider says. “She falls hard for her men… and she fell hard for Buddy.”

Hawthorn’s powerbrokers are aware of the forward’s blooming “friendship” with Jesinta, but are helping him keep it quiet to avoid any unnecessary public glare and distraction. The 196cm tall footballer, who has a tattoo adorning his left arm, is also known to sneak into Sydney to catch up with mates – which allows him to fly under the dating radar. Woman’s Day understands that Buddy and Jesinta have been enjoying wild nights inside Melbourne’s exclusive Crown Towers five-star hotel, according to a Crown employee, who wishes to remain anonymous.