Jason Horne-Francis
Jason Horne-Francis | |||
---|---|---|---|
Personal information | |||
Full name | Jason Horne-Francis | ||
Date of birth | 21 June 2003 | ||
Place of birth | South Australia | ||
Original team(s) |
SANFL) / Christies Beach (SFL ) | ||
Draft | No. 1, 2021 AFL draft | ||
Debut | Round 1, 2022, North Melbourne vs. Hawthorn, at MCG | ||
Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Weight | 98.7 kg (218 lb) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Port Adelaide | ||
Number | 18 | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
2022 | North Melbourne | 17 (4) | |
2023– | Port Adelaide | 36 (27) | |
Total | 53 (31) | ||
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 15, 2024. | |||
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
Jason Horne-Francis (né Horne; born 21 June 2003) is a professional
Football career
Horne-Francis was known as a rising star since junior football. Growing up, he supported the
In late 2021, Horne-Francis was the first South Australian since Bryce Gibbs (2006) to be chosen as the first pick in the national draft[6] and just the third Indigenous player to be drafted with the first selection after Des Headland (1998) and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (2020).[7][8] Upon joining the Kangaroos, Horne-Francis had the choice of numbers 6 and 18 for his jumper, and chose 6 because the number 18 was closely associated with club legend Wayne Carey, and Horne-Francis wanted to carve his own path.[6][9]
Horne-Francis played his first game in the AFL in the opening round of the 2022 season, having 13 disposals and kicking one goal on North Melbourne's narrow defeat to Hawthorn.[10] He was part of his first victory the following week in North's 15 point victory against West Coast.[11] In June of his first season, he was suspended by the league for two weeks for striking an opponent.[12]
In October 2022, Horne-Francis requested a trade to Port Adelaide, the second number one draft pick after Tom Boyd to request a trade after one season.[13] He was traded to Port Adelaide on 10 October,[14] signing a six-year deal keeping him at Port Adelaide until 2028.[15]
Personal life
He dropped out of school in year 11 to work at the Fleurieu Milk Company,[4]
He credits this experience, as well as his stepfather's influence, with maturing him as a person.[16] Born Jason Horne, in 2021 he added the Francis name after his stepfather, former AFL player Fabian Francis.[17][18][4] Horne-Francis' mother is Trish Francis, formerly Gully.
As an adult Horne-Francis learned that he had partial indigenous heritage through his biological father, whom he has no contact with.[19] This connects him to the Wardaman people in the Northern Territory.
References
- ^ "Jason Horne-Francis". SANFL.
- ^ Thomas-Wilson, Simeon; Turner, Matt (22 November 2021). "Hype's right: Moment SA young gun won over Modra". The Advertiser. News Corp. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
Along with eye-catching football talent and the Fleurieu Milk link, Modra and Horne-Francis have something else in common — both are products of Christies Beach Saints. One of Horne-Francis's last games for the Southern Football League club, where Nigel Smart, Dean Brogan and Nikki Gore were also juniors, was an under-15 grand final in 2018.
- ^ The West Australian (30 September 2021). "South Australian potential number one draft pick Jason Horne-Francis reveals he's a Fremantle supporter". The West Australian. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Milbank, Zac (18 August 2021). "Horne-Francis Named Torrens University SA U19 Captain". SANFL. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ "Jason Horne-Francis". Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ a b Bruce, Jasper (25 November 2021). "No.1 draft pick admission couldn't be sweeter". news. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ Gleeson, Michael (9 December 2020). "Top Dog: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan taken first in the draft". The Age. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "AFL Players' Indigenous Map 2022" (PDF). AFL Players Association. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ Jason Horne Francis the morning after the draft (NAB AFL Draft, 2021) (video), North Melbourne Football Club, November 24, 2021. Accessed December 1, 2021.
- ^ "New-look Hawks wind back the clock to start Mitchell era in style". Afl.com.au. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Six-goal Larkey stars as Roos get job done against makeshift Eagles".
- ^ "Video: Horne-Francis suspended for striking". The Age. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Power switch: Young Roos star eyes trade to Port Adelaide". afl.com.au.
- ^ @AFL_House (10 October 2022). "Trade paperwork lodged" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Founten, Loukas (10 October 2022). "Horne-Francis and Rioli land at Alberton in complex trade". Port Adelaide FC. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ Smith, Matthew (16 October 2021). "Jason Horne-Francis is the AFL's hottest draft prospect - and he's ready to become a Kangaroo - ABC News". ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ Twomey, Callum, A draft note, AFL.com.au, August 10, 2021.
- ^ Interview with 7 News Adelaide, November 24, 2021.
- ^ Thomas-Wilson, Simeon, "Port Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis on his time at North, the crowd boos, lessons learnt and a new hobby", The Advertiser, March 16, 2024.