‘This is crazy’: Crowd turns on Port talent Jason Horne-Francis

Port Adelaide young gun Jason Horne-Francis has been savagely heckled in front of his own fans in an ugly moment at Gather Round.

Jason Horne-Francis at Gather Round. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Port Adelaide young gun Jason Horne-Francis has been savagely booed again.

The Power’s big off-season recruit has repeatedly been targeted by rival fans this season after a turbulent departure from North Melbourne during the 2022 Trade Period.

The 19-year-old was booed by the Adelaide Oval crowd every time he touched the ball in the first quarter.

Horne-Francis had the last laugh after stepping up in dramatic fashion to lead Port Adelaide in its thrilling fourth quarter fight back on the way to a 14-point win.

The Power were down by eight points in the fourth quarter, but that’s when Horne-Francis suddenly took control of the game as Port Adelaide enjoyed a 10.10 (70) to 8.8 (56) win.

Despite the game being played in front of an army of Port Adelaide fans, clear boos could be heard around the stadium when Horne-Francis got his hands on the football.

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Channel 7’s Matthew Richardson didn’t understand the hate.

“What, are there a lot of Norths fans here,” the Richmond legend said.

“What was that for?”

Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes said on SEN Radio: “Jason Horne-Francis is on his home deck and is getting booed. This is crazy.”

Power coach Ken Hinkley would not have liked what was happening after making a public plea in March for fans to pull back from heckling the former No. 1 draft pick.

Jason Horne-Francis with the ball in his hands. Pic: Michael Klein.

Horne-Francis was earlier this year mercilessly booed by Collingwood fans during their clash at the MCG.

“He’s probably got some attention on him - he’s had that all summer, he’s had that for the last 12 months,” Hinkley said, referencing Horne-Francis’ high-profile trade away from North Melbourne in the off-season.

“Melbourne maybe doesn’t like him as a town, I don’t know. That’s all I can suggest it can be, because he didn’t play for Collingwood.”

Port skipper Ollie Wines also criticised the crowd for their actions against a player still finding his way as a player and as a man.

“It happens in this day and age, but it’s really unfortunate that a 19-year-old kid is getting booed,” Wines said.

“He’s a good teammate of ours, he’s a really good kid. We forget he’s 19, and at stages he’s had a lot of media coverage so early in his career.”

Magpies coach Craig McRae made his stance of booing clear.

“I’ve got a little six-year-old ... we don’t boo in our household, we respect the opposition and other athletes,” McRae said.

Horne-Francis was quiet early on and had just six disposals in the first half, but he turned it on in the final quarter, picking up eight disposals in the first 10 minutes as he helped Port Adelaide claim a huge victory.

Originally published as ‘This is crazy’: Crowd turns on Port talent Jason Horne-Francis