Win a pair of signed boots from Port Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis

Jason Horne-Francis carries the hopes of Port Adelaide on his shoulders. Here’s your chance to walk a mile in his shoes as the club prepares for their big clash against Geelong.

• Win signed pair of Port star’s boots

He’s one of the brightest young talents in the AFL, carrying the hopes of a passionate fan base on his shoulders.

But today, as Port Adelaide embarks on one of the most important finals campaigns in its history, star Jason Horne-Francis is offering fans a piece of their own slice of history.

His boots.

Horne-Francis, who experts agree will play a key role in the Power’s surge towards a possible 2024 premiership, has offered up a pair of his training boots for an exclusive competition in The Advertiser.

The signed pair of Horne-Francis boots is up for grabs for active advertiser.com.au subscribers.

All you need to do is tell us in 25 words or less why you want to win Horne-Francis’s boots – it’s as easy as that.

The competition opens Thursday, September 5 and will run until Tuesday, September 17 – find out how to enter here.

Jason Horne-Francis in his training boots at Alberton Oval. Picture Mark Brake

Jason Horne-Francis' training boots. Picture: PAFC

At the tender age of 21, Horne-Francis has already drawn comparisons to some of the sport’s all-time greats after being drafted to North Melbourne as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 AFL national draft.

But the prodigious talent opted to return to his home state of SA after just one season and has stamped himself as a genuine game-breaker in the competition.

And after an impressive debut season with the Power last year, Horne-Francis has taken his game to another level in 2024.

Spending time up forward as well as through the midfield, the speedster with flowing blond locks has booted 25 goals and set up plenty more.

Dubbed the Hornet, he was named in his first all-Australian squad last month and has earned rave reviews from some of his former critics, who are in awe of his rare combination of power, skill and toughness.

Horne-Francis’s form this year was good enough for SEN expert and ex-Port Adelaide star Dwayne Russell to declare the youngster could end up becoming the club’s greatest ever player. Rare praise indeed.

“There’s been some greats, some SANFL greats … but the Hornet, he embodies the way the Port Adelaide creed says you should play,” he said on SEN. “He plays each passage like it’s the opening to an Indiana Jones movie – it’s one life-threatening contest to the next … he can have three defining moments in one passage of play.”

Mitch Georgiades, Jason Horne-Francis and Miles Bergman at Adelaide Oval after training ahead of Thursday night’s final against Geelong. Picture: Mark Brake.

This week, Horne-Francis’s coach, Ken Hinkley, likened his young superstar to Brisbane’s three-time premiership legend Michael Voss.

“Jason gives us great mobility around midfield, he’s powerful and everyone watches him play, he’s a really talented young player, he plays like a real bull,” he said on 3AW.

“He reminds me a bit of Vossy the way he plays his footy. I hope he can become that type of player at some stage in his career.”

Hawthorn premiership star and Fox Footy commentator Jordan Lewis said Horne-Francis was “fast becoming” one of the competition’s premier midfielders and would be tough to quell this September.

“When the intensity ramps up and it becomes that physical game … he’s going to be very valuable,” he said.

He has overcome jeers from opposition supporters for leaving the Kangaroos after just one year, but appears to have taken it all in his stride.

“At first I was a bit confused when it was teams I didn’t play for,” Horne-Francis told The Advertiser this year.

“But in a sense I kind of got it and learnt how to deal with it. It is part of footy … everyone gets it (but) there was a little bit of shock at first.

“Definitely (there are regrets) – I think as a young person you have heaps but it is just about how quickly you can grow from them.”

Horne-Francis has become a hero to Power fans and footy supporters alike – and his stature should only grow during this year’s finals series.

His ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck will be critical as Port Adelaide seeks to win its second AFL flag, and first since 2004.

Port supporters Mackenzie Jarvis with his daughter Maggie, 7, and son, Jimmy, 5, enjoying the show. Picture: Dean Martin

A sellout crowd is expected at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night for Port Adelaide’s much-anticipated final against Geelong.

But fans who haven’t secured a ticket can head to the Royal Adelaide Show and watch the game on the big screens at Kingsway Gourmet and Flipside Arcade, with merchandise giveaways also available.

Longtime supporter Mackenzie Jarvis, 39, and his two children Maggie, 7, and Jimmy, 5, were at the show on Wednesday but might be back to watch their beloved team on the big screens.

“It’s a brilliant idea. Unfortunately we missed out on finals tickets so this is a tremendous way for fans to enjoy the game,” said Mr Jarvis, from Gilberton.

“The weather is going to be nice tomorrow, it’s going to be a good, family-friendly environment – we can’t wait.”