JASON HORNE-FRANCIS had one person he wanted to tell more than anyone when it was finally confirmed that he would be a Port Adelaide player in 2023 and beyond.
When the deal was locked in to ensure he would be moving to Alberton, he was straight on the phone to his father Fabian Francis to share the news.
A two-time SANFL premiership player with Port Adelaide and a member of the club’s inaugural AFL list, Francis found it hard to contain his emotions when he learned Horne-Francis would be following in his footsteps.
“It’s unreal,” Horne-Francis said after the complex trade which also landed Port Adelaide Junior Rioli from West Coast.
“Playing for the club that your dad played for and coming to a club that’s been quite successful through the years and just the culture of it.
“(Dad’s) over the moon, as is all the family but especially him.
“He almost teared up. I rang him while he was at work and told him on the phone. He was super happy and yeah he was probably tearing up.
“I’m really excited to get stuck into it.”
Adelaide also came knocking, but the emotional pull of Alberton made the difference.
“The Crows really impressed me and my family as did Port but I had that emotional connection with Port, with Dad playing there,” he said.
“He’s brought me up the Port way so it was in my blood to come here and I’m really excited and really keen.”
It was a difficult decision to leave North Melbourne for last year’s number one draft pick, just one year into his AFL career.
But at age 19, the lure of being closer to his young brother and sister, and wider family proved too much and he requested a trade to Port Adelaide.
“I’m a big family person and I love my family,” Horne-Francis explained.
“I just feel like having my family and friends around me is going to create that environment where I can play my best footy.
“That’s where I want to get to, to be the best player I can be and I think coming to a club like Port Adelaide and having my family and friends around me is going to help with that.”
While he explained he will forever be grateful for the opportunities given to him by North and he leaves with friendships and good memories, there were elements of the way things panned out over the past 12 months that didn’t suit him.
When he requested the trade, Horne-Francis was adamant that the Kangaroos should be adequately compensated.
“There have been some challenges throughout the year and from my part I probably haven’t done everything right either,” Horne-Francis said of his time at Arden Street.
“As an 18-year-old kid moving out from home to Melbourne it was tough. I had my challenges and I probably didn’t get everything right.
“It was obviously a tough year but I think it’ll help me in the long run.
“I just wanted to make sure I was in a stable environment coming into this year and a lot of people know it might be another unstable year at North so we just thought coming back home to a great club like Port would be the best for me.
“What I went through last year, a lot of people have said it’s probably the hardest (I’ll) go through so I’ll be pretty ready for it. I’m just going to try play the best footy I can and try earn the respect of my new teammates, staff and coaching staff around me.”
Now about being in a stable environment at Alberton and learning from some of the best, including Travis Boak, Ollie Wines and Connor Rozee.
He has set his sights on being the best player in the competition, putting it down to his competitiveness and desire to constantly improve.
“You can probably thank my Pop for that. We used to play a lot of pool back in the day and he used to never let me win in that so I’m really competitive and no matter what I do I want to win,” Horne-Francis continued.
“Hopefully one day I can be the best player in the competition. That’s my goal and I think with the great support network of people around me to hopefully do that but if that’s not the case, I’ll just be the best I can be and try work the hardest and do my best always.”
The Continental Tyres AFL Trade period ends at 7pm ACDT on Wednesday night.
