Prince Alfred College star Aaron Francis targets AFL

HE MADE headlines for being pulled out of the SANFL to play for his school. But AFL Draft hopefulAaron Francis says a family tragedy has given him a reason to play football.

HE HAS made headlines for being pulled out of the SANFL to play for his school and has been touted as a top-10 selection at this year’s AFL national draft.

But Prince Alfred College star Aaron Francis reckons he “never really had a reason” to play football until tragedy rocked his family last year.

His brother Hayden died aged 18 following a short battle with cancer last September – the morning after Aaron won an under-18 premiership with West Adelaide.

Francis, 18 and originally from Loxton, says football was “an escape route” from the grief.

Now Hayden’s death is motivating him to reach the AFL.

“It’s probably the reason why I play footy now,” Francis, a Prince Alfred boarder, says.

“(Getting drafted) would mean heaps – it’d be the best thing in the world.”

With his family in the Riverland, Francis says the support of teammates, coaches and teachers at Prince Alfred and West has helped him greatly.

But club and school football collided earlier this year when PAC stopped him playing for West’s league side so he could feature in a series of Messenger Shield and Knockout Cup games.

Prince Alfred can compel students to play school football or release them to line up for SANFL clubs at its discretion – as it did with Francis for five league games earlier this year.

He is glad to have played a part in PAC securing its fourth shield in six seasons.

Francis, who has returned to West for the club’s league finals campaign, is taking Hayden’s memory with him into every game.

The key forward/defender writes “swing life away” in texta on the heel of his right boot.

Swing Life Away, by US punk band Rise Against, was Hayden’s favourite song.

“He enjoyed playing footy ... so I can relive his dreams through me playing.”