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Analysis Pick 1: Jason Horne-Francis vs rest of the field

Who would you select with #1?

  • Horne-Francis

    Votes: 227 92.7%

  • Callaghan

    Votes: 13 5.3%

  • Other (please specify)

    Votes: 5 2.0%
  • Total voters
    245

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King Corey said:
?
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The 60 games in 2 seasons and their maths being so far off.

If it was a potshot at you, I would have done something more pr0n related.
 

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Psicosis said:
I've been a little reluctant to post this mail, but hey, f*** it.

North haven't yet interviewed JHF.

I don't claim to have an intimate understanding of the recruiting process & recall we only interviewed WAP once last year, but I do find it a bit strange.
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Martin Pegan, with AAP - 1 hr ago

list manager Justin Reid
The Crows don't expect to have access to South Adelaide's Jason Horne-Francis who is widely seen as the best untied player in this year's NAB AFL Draft pool.

The 18-year-old played 20 SANFL matches this season and starred in a losing preliminary final last week as he kicked three goals from 24 disposals, 18 contested possessions and 11 clearances.




We've had conversations with every club, but certainly North Melbourne," Reid said.

"We saw what Jason did last Friday night in that prelim for the Panthers.

"He's a quality individual and I wouldn't have thought North Melbourne are moving too much on their pick one."


Is a conversation the same as an interview?
 
I'm reasonably disappointed with the hyphenated surname. IMHO irrespective of his wishes I think his nickname clearly should be either JC or Heyzeus - as in "Jesus Christ, that's Jason Horne"
 

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The performance of the year
In the individual performance of the season, pick one contender Jason Horne-Francis gave his all for South Adelaide in their SANFL League preliminary final against Glenelg. It's a game he announced himself to the football world and as a player to be feared.

Through the midfield for much of the first three quarters, Horne-Francis did everything. From chasing and pressuring, providing second and third efforts, to running back hard in support of South Adelaide's defence. His work rate was through the roof. He was winning the ball, hurting the opposition with his run and work by foot, sacrificing his body willingly and managed to kick two goals in that period.

In the final quarter, South Adelaide chose to roll the dice by shifting Horne-Francis forward. He found yet another level to his play and felt like he was taking over the game in a fashion not seen this year by anyone at any level outside the AFL. He was South Adelaide's most dangerous around goal. Early in the quarter in the space of one minute he hit the post twice, and later in the quarter kicked a goal.
Aside from being South Adelaide's most dangerous option inside 50m, he was also their best playmaker, setting up teammates inside 50m by foot and continuing to impose himself defensively with his unrelenting chasing and pressure. It was the diversity of ways he was influential which impressed the most. Courageously running back with the ball in flight at speed towards the behind post, winning first possession at stoppages, flying for high balls, taking the ball on the lead, causing opponents to worry about him one-on-one and whenever the ball dropped to ground, he was winning it at speed on the move. It was a completely dominant performance.

Despite Horne-Francis' brilliance with 24 disposals, 11 clearances, two contested marks, three goals and three behinds, it was not enough for South Adelaide to advance to the Grand Final, losing to Glenelg by 28-points.
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Knightmare cops a lot of vitriol these days, mostly for good reason. But this is spot on.
 

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HE CAN BE A ROO-KIE MONSTER
Brilliant SANFL audition just icing on the cake

JASON Horne-Francis has his sights set on North Melbourne calling out his name ahead of every other player in November’s national draft.

If the Roos had any reservations, his final SANFL match last weekend might just have been his mic-drop moment.

The brilliant South Adelaide midfielder’s season came to a close with a finals exit, but for Horne-Francis it was another barnstorming reminder of his brilliance.

Anyone not convinced he was good enough to be the draft’s best player would have walked away wowed by his multi-dimensional talents.

The 24-possession, 11- clearance, 160-ranking-point, 10-score-involvement game showed that the Kangaroos would not only call his name, they would do so fully aware he could step into senior football from round 1 next year – just as he did when he was elevated to senior SANFL football in round 7 last year and never missed a beat.

And did we mention the three goals in Friday’s performance – one perfect

crumbing effort at the front of the pack, a scrounged goalline soccer kick from the pack, and then an exquisite left-foot snap from the tightest of angles on the boundary line? So, yes, he’s ready to go No.1.

The only minor problem is he has no idea where he sits because he hasn’t spoken to North Melbourne.

“No, I haven’t spoken to North yet, which I think most people think is a little weird.

But I think we will get there soon,” he said.

“I have spoken to 11 or 12 clubs, but I am happy to go anywhere really. I think North have some interest, but I will embrace wherever I go.

“North are a really young and developing team. They are exciting to watch, so it would be good to come into a young squad like that and develop with the young boys, but I

haven’t heard much from them yet.”

The Roos might end up bidding on father-sons Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy to keep those clubs honest before they end up securing Horne-Francis.

And yet there is a case that Horne-Francis’s exposed form over the past 18 months makes it easy for the Roos to justify bestowing upon him the No.1 overall pick tag that he has coveted for some time.

“I think earlier in the year it was just wherever I go I will be happy,” he said. “That’s still the case, but I have put a bit of a challenge on myself to see if I can get that No.1 spot.

“It would be great. It would be a reflection of all the hard work I have put in and the family has put in as well.

“That’s what we are striving for, but if it doesn’t happen that’s fine as well.”

Like Ash Barty’s use of the “we” instead of “I”, Horne- Francis’s success comes with a support cast that has been integral to his development.

Francis recently turned 18, which allowed him to legally change his name from Horne to Horne-Francis to recognise stepfather Fabian Francis, who played 109 games with Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Adelaide.

“My dad and mum (Trish) split up and we moved out and mum met Fabian and he’s my stepdad,” he said.

“So ever since I was six or seven, he has taught me so much. He’s been good to have around and to help bring my family up.

“He likes to talk himself up to me, tell me how good he was, so we give each other a bit of s--- and have a bit of fun.

“We just thought turning 18 when I could (change my name) it was the right time to do it. All my other family, my sister and brother and mum have done it, so it was the right time.

“I can’t thank mum and dad enough for what they have done and sacrificed for me.

They knew where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do.

They put everything aside for me.”

Managed by Ben Williams, of Players Ink, he has the same flair and spark as another Williams client, Isaac Heeney.

His barnstorming SANFL take-down tackle of AFLlisted Darcy Fogarty went viral – “Yeah, I love that part of the game, it’s good to get aggressive with the big boys” – as did his skyscraper of a hanger as a mid-sized forward.

His 11 stoppage clearances last weekend showcased the full range of skills – hitting the contest at top pace, reefing it from the bottom of the pack, reflex intercepts and clever handball releases to teammates in space.

In a midfield with Ben Cunnington, Luke Davies- Uniacke, Tarryn Thomas, Will Phillips and Tom Powell, he will easily go forward and make use of his explosiveness at times next year like the best midfielders such as Dustin Martin, Christian Petracca and Marcus Bontempelli.

If North did use its No.1 overall pick on him, it would secure the club much-needed hype.

“He won’t mind it,” a confidante said.

“He is laconic. He will just go and get the ball or kill someone trying to get it.”

The Roos will strike gold with Horne-Francis a year after SANFL mid Powell became a value pick at No.13.

South Australia’s relatively untouched junior competitions have given the pair a leg-up on rivals from Victoria’s Covidravaged NAB League.

Horne-Francis finished Year 12 last year, so has put his time to good use with a weekly schedule that involves babysitting brother Fabian Jr on Mondays and a job that still allows him time to devote to his craft.

“I work for Fleurieu Milk four days a week, five hours a day, and then I look after my little brother on Mondays,” he said.

“He is one and a half, not far from two, so he’s getting to an age where he’s a ratbag, but it’s good to have him and give him some company and he acts a lot like me when I was younger as well.”

Horne-Francis will find himself at Arden St alongside Jack Ziebell and Todd Goldstein, but said he would have to give up his childhood love of a team much further west across the Nullarbor.

“I go for Freo,” he said.

“I know it’s unusual for an Adelaide boy. But I was coming through when they had success back in Adelaide and I just liked Naf Fyfe.

“The way he went about his footy, and Freo really grew on me from there. I think I liked the way he went about his offfield preparation, the way he did everything he could to get himself right. I love the way he attacks the ball, how aggressive he is.”

Baby steps for Horne- Francis, but he is at least the prototype of the modern footballer who like Fyfe can do a little bit of everything – bring down a rampaging opponent, climb on someone’s head or bounce back up and kick a jaw-dropping goal a moment later.

It is why his name will be spilling out of the mouth of the lucky Roos recruiter who calls his name at 7pm on November 24 ahead of a long career at Arden St for David Noble. jon.ralph@news.com.au
 
We barely spoke to Phillips last year, still drafted him.
 
It is still a bit odd, you would have thought once we had secured last spot you would touch base with the managers of the top 4 or 5 prospects and have a chat to them, you never know when you run into a Perkins type.
 
Tas said:
It is still a bit odd, you would have thought once we had secured last spot you would touch base with the managers of the top 4 or 5 prospects and have a chat to them, you never know when you run into a Perkins type.
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Not phased about the club not contacting him at all.

Once the club seen that vision of him crumbing off the pack at a stoppage on the far wing, taking 8 bounces, balking 4 opponents, then slotting a sausage roll from 45m as a 16? year old, he could have a personality of Hannibal Lecter and we’ll still grab him..
 

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Analysis Pick 1: Jason Horne-Francis vs rest of the field

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