‘Reasons are irrelevant’: Brad Scott calls for end to Jason Horne-Francis booing

Essendon coach Brad Scott has a strong message for travelling Bombers fans this weekend when they face Port Adelaide.

Essendon coach Brad Scott says he will be disappointed if Bombers fans elect to boo Jason Horne-Francis on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

Essendon coach Brad Scott has urged Bombers supporters to refrain from booing young Port Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis when his side meets the Power in Adelaide on Sunday.

Fans from Victorian clubs have regularly jeered the 19-year-old at matches this season despite no affiliation with North Melbourne, the club the former No.1 pick left to return home to South Australia via trade at the end of last season.

Scott said it would be a bad look for Bombers supporters to get involved in booing the Power midfielder and was critical of any individual player receiving such treatment from fans.

“We don’t want (Essendon fans) to do that. I don’t think booing an individual player is the right thing to do – the reasons behind it to me are irrelevant,” Scott said.

“We don’t want our fans to do that. We want to win, we want to be competitive, we want to be combative – but we want to do it in the right manner, and sportsmanship is a big part of the way that we want to go about it.”

Brad Scott expects to see Jason Horne-Francis go head-to-head with Jake Stringer at stoppages on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Michael Klein

Scott said he expected to see the teenager line up on explosive Bomber Jake Stringer at stoppages during the match in an intriguing head-to-head battle.

“I think they will at different stages, depending on how Port want to set it up … it will be a tantalising match-up if that happens,” he said.

“I think any time two really powerful, explosive players go head-to-head it’s exciting for everyone.”

Zach Reid is firming to play his ninth AFL game and first for the season, with the 202cm defender training with the Bombers’ first choice defensive group on Friday, while swingman Kyle Langford was put through his paces with the forwards.

Scott said how Reid got through training would determine the final selection decision on Friday evening, conscious of the Power’s height in attack with Charlie Dixon, Todd Marshall and Jeremy Finlayson all taller than 197cm.

Defender Zach Reid could make a long-awaited return to the top level for his ninth game against Port Adelaide. Picture: Michael Klein

“Zach’s done a power of work, we’ve been really conservative with his recovery from his injury,” Scott said.

“He’s done a really good training block before we even brought him back to play VFL footy.

“(Selection will be) a bit based on training but also the overall make-up of our team, but we won’t compromise just because it looks better on paper potentially with a bit more height in defence – we won’t compromise unless he’s absolutely ready to go.”

Scott said former captain Dyson Heppell was fresh after being managed against Geelong and would return to the side.

“It’s really helped him, he was feeling really good and felt like he was ready to play (last week), but it was just a logical time to give him a rest off a five-day break,” he said.

“Like most players, they don’t love it at the time, but Dyson is a consummate team man and he feels much better for it.”