Alastair Clarkson defends Jason Horne-Francis, wants end to ‘hysteria’ over trade
Alastair Clarkson reveals what was said in a surprise conversation with former Kangaroo Jason Horne-Francis earlier this season.
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North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has reached out to Jason Horne-Francis to settle any tension between the young Power star and his former club.
Clarkson says he texted Horne-Francis a month ago to clear the air over his departure from North Melbourne, assuring the teenager there were no grudges being held against him at Arden Street.
The Kangaroos will take on Horne-Francis’ Port Adelaide in Hobart on Saturday in the first clash between the two sides since the trade in which the No.1 pick returned home to South Australia and the Roos ended up with picks two and three in the 2022 draft.
Clarkson said such player movement had been seen plenty of times in football and, like former Hawk Lance Franklin’s decision to uproot to Sydney in 2013, completely understandable.
“I texted (Horne-Francis) three or four weeks ago and said, ‘Mate, just get on with your life, don’t think that there’s any grudges here – we’ve moved on, you’ve moved on, all the best with it mate’,” Clarkson said.
“And he responded positively, appreciated the text. It was really just an olive branch to say there’s no grudges here, you get on with your life and we’ll get on with ours.
“(Franklin) left Hawthorn not because he hated Hawthorn, but just because he wanted a different environment to play his footy … if he’s not happy, time to move to another club, and Jase is exactly the same.
“We got Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw and another pick from Port that we might be able to use that will help us in the build of our footy club and we’ll get on with it … he’s been playing some pretty good footy for them, I’m pleased that he’s going well, hopefully he doesn’t go so well on Saturday against us.”
Clarkson said whether Horne-Francis was the subject of any extra physical attention from the Kangaroos on Saturday would ultimately rest with sentiment among his players, but he added he did not want to see North supporters boo the 19-year-old on Saturday.
“Personally, I can’t work out why anyone would feel compelled to boo anyone on the ground … irrespective of whether that’s what we’re going to face this week with our supporters and Horne-Francis or whether it’s Buddy or any player,” he said.
“I’m hoping that doesn’t happen with our supporters this week with Horne-Francis, and I certainly didn’t like what I heard in the stadium last week when such a decorated servant, not just of Sydney and Hawthorn but of the game … it just doesn’t make sense.”
Clarkson said key position recruit Griffin Logue would continue in a makeshift forward-ruck role against the Power after a “really pleasing” performance in the loss to St Kilda.
Originally published as Alastair Clarkson defends Jason Horne-Francis, wants end to ‘hysteria’ over trade
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