Port Adelaide NGA product Will Francou has spent the last two weeks training at Alberton, using the time to build his skills, discipline and strength. Image: Matt Sampson.

First there was Brett Ebert, then came Jackson Mead, Trent and Jase Burgoyne and Taj Schofield. In recent weeks Harper Montgomery made his Port Adelaide debut in the SANFL, and now Will Francou has spent time at Alberton, hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps into the AFL.

Currently in year 12 at St Peter’s College and preparing for exams, father-son prospect Francou was given the chance to spend two weeks training with Port Adelaide, where his father Josh Francou was a member of the inaugural AFL list and played 156 games.

While walking into an elite sporting environment as a teenager can be pretty daunting, it was made easier for the 18-year-old by having his North Adelaide Under 18 teammate Montgomery there most days with him.

“It definitely helped having a football mate, so that you can always talk to them and hang out with them,” Francou said of his experience.

“Obviously, it’s a bit daunting coming into an AFL club so that really helped me.

“I was very surprised how welcoming everyone was. They all knew I had an injury and asked me about it, and cared about it so I found that really welcoming.”

Recovering from a syndesmosis injury, Will Francou took up the offer to spend time with the squad as part of his academy experience. Image: Matt Sampson.

Currently sidelined following surgery on a syndesmosis injury, Francou is close to playing again and hoping to fit in as many as seven games before the end of the season.

The injury happened two months ago in a big game for his school against rivals Rostrevor when his foot got caught under an opponent in a tackle in the last 30 seconds of the first quarter.

Seven weeks post operation Francou took up an offer by Port Adelaide Next Generation Academy (NGA) coach Justin Westhoff to spend some time training with the AFL side as part of his academy experience.

“Justin Westhoff met with Dad and asked if I’d be interested,” he explained.

“I thought about it and sat on it for a while given my syndesmosis injury and having my leg in a moon boot for a while so as soon as I came out of the moon boot I got down here as soon as I could.

“I learnt how hard the players work in the gym. It’s easy to be swept along and I realised I was working harder as well because of the supportive environment.

“The professionalism and how everything is ordered and strict in a good way. The work-ethic really made it easy to be swept up in it.

“The experience has made me want more.”

Will Francou will look to follow in the footstepts of his father, Josh Francou, who was a member of Port Adelaide's inaugural AFL list and played 156 games for the club. Image: AFL Photos.

While Josh Francou spent time on the coaching panel at Sydney, Adelaide and the Gold Coast, his son started life as a Port Adelaide fan and remains one, despite wanting his father to succeed.

“Growing up here for the first nine years of my life I was a die-hard Port Adelaide supporter,” Will Francou said.

“I like to see Dad succeed as well so moving to Sydney I went for the Swans, and even the Gold Coast Suns, even though I still followed Port.

“I couldn’t quite get behind the Crows (when he was there). But I definitely love Port Adelaide.”

Josh Francou was renowned as a midfielder with an elite running capacity and an ability to find the ball and extract it from the contest.

His son has shown some similar traits in his time with North Adelaide and with Port Adelaide’s NGA.

“I have similar endurance to him because he always told me that if you’re smaller you’ve got to be able to run,” the younger Francou said.

“That’s definitely my focus area and my explosiveness as well, but I also pride myself on my skills and decision making on the outside. A work in progress this year is my contested footy. I’ve improved a lot in that area but I’m still looking to improve on that.

“It’s good to know I’m somewhat like him. If I could become a football player like him, that would be amazing but it’s a work in progress.”