By Marc McGowan
No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis has described his first taste of full-scale training at Port Adelaide as something he had “never seen before” in a subtle dig at his old club North Melbourne.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who sensationally requested a trade from the Kangaroos after just one turbulent season, resumed full training after Christmas after undergoing surgery on both his legs in late October.
Power recruit Jason Horne-Francis.Credit: Nine News
A Power medical investigation discovered Horne-Francis had “significant compression of the arteries in the back of his knees”, which caused referred pain to his calves and feet throughout his debut AFL campaign.
“It was a pretty heavy surgery that needed to be done,” he told the club website.
“There are no issues with them now, other than some pretty heavy scars. Everything’s going really well. I’m back in full training and just the level that we’re training at here is something I’ve never seen before.
“It’s a competitive environment and that’s something I love. The training standard that we’re at is awesome, and I’m loving being on the track with the boys.
“Coming to a new club and being in rehab was obviously tough. I wasn’t able to be around the boys as much as I would have liked to, but definitely coming back training now has been awesome.”
North Melbourne agreed to part ways with Horne-Francis after a year in which the homesick teenager clashed with teammates on-field and was dumped to the VFL for not having an ice bath.
The South Australian joined Port Adelaide, along with ex-Eagle Willie Rioli, in a four-club mega deal, with the Kangaroos scoring picks two and three in last year’s draft and the Power’s 2023 first-rounder while sending the No.1 selection to the Giants.
Horne-Francis, who played 17 matches last season, will avoid his former club’s Melbourne-based fans for his first showdown with his old teammates, in round nine at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena on May 13.
He is relishing being back with family in South Australia, including stepfather and ex-Port Adelaide footballer Fabian Francis.
“I’ve only been back here for a bit, but just to have the support network I have around me now and to be at a great club like Port Adelaide with the great players and coaching staff and members we have here, is just awesome,” he said.
“Dad brought me up the Port way and that’s all I’ve ever known from a young age, so it’s great to be at Port and living what I’d dreamt.”
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