AFL off-season news: Jason Horne-Francis facing delayed start to pre-season with Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide was always going to address Jason Horne-Francis’ debilitating pain issue. But it would always come with pre-season complications for their prized recruit.

Connor Rozee trains at an "AFL Camp" in California run by Austin Einhorn, who works with Port Adelaide star Travis Boak.

Port Adelaide’s prized recruit Jason Horne-Francis will have a delayed start to pre-season after undergoing knee surgery.

Horne-Francis, who joined the Power from North Melbourne during the trade period, had a procedure to decompress the arteries behind his knees to ease leg pain that had troubled him throughout the season.

The 19-year-old will have to rest then will be on a modified training program before the Christmas break but he is expected to be available for round 1.

Taken first overall in last November’s draft, Horne-Francis sought a homecoming trade this month and was dealt in a four-club deal that cost Port Adelaide two first-round picks.

Port Power recruit Jason Horne-Francis at his new Alberton home. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Power medical boss Tim O’Leary said the club knew about the midfielder/forward’s issue, which included at times debilitating pain in both calves and feet, before it committed to pursuing him.

O’Leary said the club’s assessment revealed significant compression of the arteries at the back of Horne-Francis’s knees, which blocked blood flow to his lower legs.

“Following consultation with numerous specialists ... we decided it was best for Jason’s health and ongoing football performance that he have the surgery now to release the pressure on the arteries and restore normal blood flow to his lower legs,” O’Leary said.

Jason Horne-Francis will have a delayed start to pre-season training. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“He is now recovering well and will build into pre-season training with a view to being ready to play in the 2023 season-opener.”

Horne-Francis, a South Adelaide junior, played 17 games for the Kangaroos this year.

He averaged 16.5 disposals, 3.5 clearances and 2.5 inside 50s, as well as booted four goals, during a two-win North Melbourne campaign that included the sacking of coach David Noble.

Homesickness led to Horne-Francis — the son of former Port Adelaide player Fabian Francis — requesting a trade to the Power.

Watch: Boak takes Port young guns on intense US camp

They are videos about 30 to 40 seconds in length, taken on the other side of the world.

And they should have Port Adelaide fans very excited.

With AFL players now able to travel the world again, Travis Boak has jetted back to the United States to link up with sports and human movement specialist Austin Einhorn.

And in what could be a huge boost for the Power’s chances of rebounding in 2023, he has taken some of his Port teammates.

After taking Charlie Dixon to California in 2019, which preceded Dixon’s 2020 All-Australian season, Boak is in Santa Cruz with Power young guns Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Mitch Georgiades, as well as Ryan Burton.

Dixon and Boak in America in 2019. Pictures: Supplied.

Connor Rozee training at the "AFL Camp" in California run by Austin Einhorn, who works with Travis Boak. Picture: Instagram

The Power quintet are working in the gym and on the field as part of the “Apiros AFL Camp” that is being run by Einhorn and documented on his Instagram.

Each of the Power players are getting custom programming from Einhorn.

Of particular interest to Power fans should be the attendance of three of their brightest talents.

After a year in which he was named an All-Australian, Rozee is working on what Einhorn has described as “lingering asymmetries” in his right foot.

Travis Boak has taken three Port Adelaide young guns on an intense US training camp.

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Rozee has had issues with his foot over the past couple of years and is working on “creating a twist in his midfoot during plantarflexion, which will help prevent future injury and enhance performance”.

Butters played 20 games for the Power in 2022, but didn’t hit the heights many thought he would last season.

But if Einhorn has anything to do with it the midfielder/forward could be even quicker when he takes to the field in 2023, while Butters has also been working on improving his core and his balance.

Zak Butters working on his agility. Picture: Instagram

Einhorn has been working with Mitch Georgiades on addressing the issues he is still experiencing from a right AC joint sprain last year.

However, it might be what Georgiades gets from the camp that proves to be the biggest benefit for the Power. The young gun key forward found himself out of the Power team on occasions last year.

Over in America, Einhorn has been working with Georgiades on addressing the issues he is still experiencing from a right AC joint sprain last year.

“His scapular and shoulder motion was very limited” Einhorn posted.

“He couldn’t do a scapular pull up 45 minutes earlier. One session improved his shoulder movement and how he felt.”

When Dixon went over to California and worked with Einhorn the results were incredible.

Will the same happen with the Power’s brightest stars?

Originally published as AFL off-season news: Jason Horne-Francis facing delayed start to pre-season with Port Adelaide