Port Adelaide concerned by ‘really unfortunate’ booing of Jason Horne-Francis

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley suggested ‘Melbourne doesn’t like’ Jason Horne-Francis after a ruthless occurrence at the MCG.

Jason Horne-Francis of the Power in action during the 2023 AFL Round 02 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Port Adelaide Power at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 25, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Port Adelaide has been left concerned and confused by the bizarre and relentless booing of young gun Jason Horne-Francis at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

The 19-year-old midfielder was restricted to just 15 disposals, six marks and tackle as Collingwood dominated proceedings for a 71-point win over the Power in front of more than 60,000 fans at the MCG.

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However it wasn’t just the treatment from the Magpies players that was putting the AFL’s former number one draft pick off his game, with the crowd continually booing the youngster for no obvious reason.

The brutal response at the AFL’s biggest stadium left Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley concerned.

Jason Horne-Francis was well contained by the Magpies. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“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 his 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.

Why would Collingwood fans boo Horne Francis?

— Darren Parkin (@Darren_Parkin) March 25, 2023

"I can't quite fathom where Collingwood fans see their role in this."

- Gerard Whateley on the booing of Jason Horne-Francis #AFLPiesPower

— AFL Nation (@AFLNation) March 25, 2023

Why are they booing Horne-Francis?

— Adrian Polykandrites (@Adrian_Poly) March 25, 2023

“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.

Meanwhile, Collingwood has quashed any remaining doubt it is a serious premiership contender with their dominant victory over Port.

The Magpies attacked ruthlessly to kick the Power out of the game inside the first half with a chain of nine unanswered goals, while their forward-half pressure was intense and left the Power looking listless as they searched for a way up the field.

It was the exact kind of “chaos game” Port coach Hinkley said during the week his players were preparing for, but the Power had no answers for the Magpies’ firepower as they stormed to a 49-point halftime lead off the back of 10 individual goalkickers.

Nick Daicos (left) and brother Josh Daicos of the Magpies celebrate. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Daicos brothers again had the MCG crowd heaving with a flurry of classy finishes, as Scott Pendlebury put the younger Daicos on a path to a goal via a vintage no-look overhead handball.

Like the ageless Pendlebury, fellow veteran Steele Sidebottom was in everything as Collingwood comprehensively won the midfield battle, with Jason Horne-Francis heavily targeted in the contest and Ollie Wines and Connor Rozee well short of their usual impact.

The loss was a 125-point turnaround on Port Adelaide’s round 1 win over Brisbane, leaving serious question marks over the side’s ability to consistently match the best teams in the competition - Collingwood now knows for certain it is one of those teams.

PIES’ FIRST HALF FRENZY

From the opening moments it was clear fans would get the fast and attacking brand of football both the Magpies and Power had brought to their respective round 1 games.

But the Power weren’t fully equipped with the attacking weaponry they needed to match Collingwood, and after a frantic first 15 minutes where the lead changed hands five times, the Magpies’ forward depth proved too much to handle.

The Magpies were way too good. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Any Pies forward was targeted and their accuracy was superb as they piled on seven majors in the opening term and another six in the second, while Port Adelaide struggled to supply Charlie Dixon, who was targeted repeatedly despite being double and triple-teamed.

SHOWDOWN STRIFE FOR BURTON

Port Adelaide defender Ryan Burton could face a week on the sidelines after a careless tackle on Jamie Elliott early in the third quarter.

The 26-year-old had Elliott in his clutches deep in the Magpies’ forward line but unnecessarily threw the small forward into the ground, landing him straight on his head.

Elliott was quickly back to his feet and nabbed the goal, but Burton will face a nervous wait ahead of the showdown against Adelaide on Saturday night.

BILLY’S BAPTISM OF FIRE

Billy Frampton had a shaky start to his Collingwood debut and found himself mobbed by players from his former club when he gave away a 50m penalty and cheap goal to his opponent Charlie Dixon for the first of the game.

The 201cm defender was beaten on the lead by Dixon for a second goal a few minutes later, but he eventually settled into the game and showed his composure when he won a ground ball battle isolated against Mitch Georgiades late in the second term.

- With NCA Newswire