Port Adelaide recruit Jason Horne-Francis is already one of the AFL’s most scrutinised players despite just playing one season at the top level.
After being taken by North Melbourne with pick No. 1 in the 2021 Draft, Horne-Francis dealt with various headlines as his attitude and professionalism were questioned across 17 games for the Kangaroos.
The media spotlight only intensified once he requested a trade home to South Australia with the Power, becoming the second number-one pick to ask out after just one season at the club they were drafted to.
Having made some enemies with North Melbourne fans after leaving the club, Horne-Francis was asked by Gerard Healy and Kane Cornes on SEN Sportsday about how he deals with the hatred.
“Obviously, like you said it’s impossible to hide from that, I guess, hate,” Horne-Francis told SEN Sportsday.
“But there’s a lot of things I try to surround myself with, the best people I can, you know my family and friends, they’re the best people I’ve got in my life.
“I just try to surround myself (with the right people) and do things that make me happy.
“I’m very lucky that I’ve got a very good friend group and when I’m with them we don’t have to talk about footy and that really helps.
“I’ve got a lovely girlfriend as well. She helps keep me grounded and my family and especially my dad keeps me grounded and focused on what I need to do week in and week out.
“Port Adelaide have also been very good with that, helping me focus on the now and what I need to do.”
While Horne-Francis showed glimpses of his immense potential in his first season, he somewhat underwhelmed after being one of the most hyped draft picks in recent memory.
Perhaps a reason for this was the at times debilitating pain in his calves and feet after it was discovered he had significant compression of the arteries in the back of his knees.
After having surgery to repair the issue, Horne-Francis says he’s feeling great as he wants to go about earning the respect of the competition in his second season.
“My legs are feeling really good now, I’ve had a great pre-season,” Horne-Francis said.
“I’m fit and we’re looking fit as well, I’m really excited, I don’t have much expectations on myself, I’m still trying to find my way around, earn respect still.
“I just want to try and go out and play the best footy I can to help us and the team get to where we want to this year.”
After working on his fitness, Horne-Francis says he’s looking forward to playing in a split role between midfield and forward.
“Last year it was my first year coming in and I probably wasn’t the fittest,” Horne-Francis said.
“I was probably covering 11-12km around the ground, I know as an inside midfielder I need to do a little bit more and get my metres per minute up which is something I’ve been working on.
“I’m feeling pretty fit … it’s up to Ken (Hinkley) what he wants to do with me.
“He’s given me a little bit and it’ll probably be a 60-40 split (midfield-forward).
“I’m happy with it, to be honest, I’d love to be inside – that’s where I think I do my best work – but wherever I can help the team, I’m happy to play there.”
Since joining the club, Horne-Francis says he’s gotten under the wing of club legend Travis Boak as he tries to learn how to prepare as a true professional.
“I try to lean on Travis as much I can,” Horne-Francis said.
“He’s been in the system for a long time, he’s that ultimate professional and that’s probably the area I want to improve in that professionalism and really getting my off-field stuff right.
“It’s getting my standards and preparation up, all of that and he’s the best at it so I’ve been leaning on him as much as I can in that sense and in the footy sense.
“He’s probably the one for me at the moment.”
Horne-Francis looks set to make his club debut for Port Adelaide when they host Brisbane in a Round 1 clash at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon.