AFL Draft 2021: Jason Horne-Francis has turned down North’s offer to wear Carey’s No.18

Prized No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis has turned down North Melbourne’s offer to wear Wayne Carey’s famous No.18 - albeit ‘tempting’, here is why the future star said no.

South Australia’s first No. 1 draft pick in 15 years has revealed he knocked back the chance to wear the North Melbourne guernsey number made famous by the club’s greatest player Wayne Carey.

Jason Horne-Francis, who on Wednesday night became the first SANFL player drafted at No. 1 since his South Adelaide teammate Bryce Gibbs was selected from Glenelg in 2006, said that the Kangaroos had offered him the prized No. 18 jumped but he instead opted for No. 6.

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Malcolm Blight presents Jason Horne-Francis with the No.6 jumper. Picture: AFL Photos via Getty Images

“I wanted to create my own pathway,’’ Horne-Francis said of his choice of number after being made North’s first-ever No. 1 selection.

“We knew 18 was there (available) and the great Wayne Carey wore that but I thought to create my own pathway would be good for me.

“It was a little bit tempting to take the 18 but I thought the No. 6 would be best.

“I spoke to some people about it, Benny (manager Ben Williams) and mum and dad, to see what their thoughts were and we decided to go with six.’’

Key Roos to have donned the No. 6 jumper include Shannon Grant, John Dugdale, Ian Fairley and Arnold Briedis

Jason Horne-Francis fell asleep in his new jumper. Picture: North Melbourne Football Club

Midfielder gamebreaker Horne-Francis, who is so proud to have joined the Kangaroos that he slept in his guernsey on Wednesday night, was handed his jumper at North Adelaide’s Cathedral Hotel by fellow Croweater and North legend Malcolm Blight, the 1978 Brownlow Medallist.

“It was a really special moment and an honour to be presented the jumper by him,’’ he said.

Horne-Francis will fly to Melbourne on the weekend and said he couldn’t wait to start pre-season training, believing North is building an exciting young list.

“Hopefully we can get some success in the next couple of years,’’ he said.

“It might not come in the first year but keep watching and I think we’ll do all right.”

Draft prospect tests positive for banned substance

Draft prospect Michael Randall has tested positive to a banned substance present in weight loss products and is awaiting a tribunal hearing that will determine his eligibility to play next season.

The powerful Peel midfielder, who nominated for this week’s AFL drafts, was tested after the WAFL match against West Perth in July while he and his club were informed of an adverse finding about a month later.

A regular and influential performer at WAFL league level, Randall has been on the radar of several AFL clubs after a breakout season for the Thunder.

He trained with Fremantle during pre-season in a bid to be picked up in the supplemental selection period.

WA Football Commission chief executive Michael Roberts confirmed that Randall, 21, had been stood down after being issued with notice of an anti-doping rule violation.

It is alleged that Randall tested positive to the banned stimulant phentermine – a substance used in prescription weight loss medications.

He was stood down for Peel’s last home-and-away match this season with the Thunder saying at the time that he was unavailable for “personal reasons”.

It is understood that Randall has been considering his playing options, including whether to remain at the Thunder or seek a new home elsewhere.

He is waiting for a Sport Integrity Australia investigation to be completed to trigger a WAFL tribunal hearing.

It is not known if AFL clubs or his potential WAFL suitors were aware of his status until The West Australian started making inquiries this week.

Roberts said the WAFC, Peel and Randall could not comment on the matter due to the strict confidentiality obligations imposed by the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code but confirmed Randall had been stood down.

“The West Australian Football Commission confirms that Peel Thunder player Michael Randall has been issued with notice of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code which applies to all Australian football competitions including the WAFL and is administered by the AFL,” Roberts said.

“It is alleged that a sample provided in-competition by Mr Randall tested positive for Phentermine which is classified as a non-specified substance (class S6a. stimulants, prohibited in-competition only) under the World Anti-Doping Code’s Prohibited List 2021.

“The AFL has imposed a mandatory provisional suspension on Mr Randall, which prevents him playing matches and participating in team training, pending the determination of the matter including further investigation by Sport Integrity Australia.

In accordance with strict confidentiality obligations imposed by the code, no further comment will be made by the WAFC, Peel Thunder, AFL, SIA or Michael Randall at this time.”

Four WAFL players were under suspension for illicit substance breaches during 2012 but there have been no other positive tests recorded since East Perth’s Dean Cadwallader was banned for four years in 2015 for a second offence.

DRAFT REVIEW: TWO PICKS SHOW CHANGING FACE OF DRAFT

— Sam Landsberger

Out of Africa and into the first round, these are the two selections who will change the face of the national draft.

First-up was Mac Andrew, the Egyptian-born South Sudanese ruckman taken by Gold Coast at pick 5.

Next was Leek Aleer, the kid who fled war-torn South Sudan at the age of five and landed at Greater Western Sydney at pick 15 on Wednesday night.

‘Big Mac’ was the bolter of the year. Aleer was the bolter of the night.

They will join Buku Khamis (Western Bulldogs), Aliir Aliir (Port Adelaide), Changkuoth Jiath (Hawthorn), Majak Daw (Melbourne), Mabior Chol (Gold Coast), Bigoa Nyuon (Richmond), Michael Frederick (Fremantle) and Martin Frederick (Port Adelaide) on AFL lists.

But Daw was a trailblazer 10 years ago and the rest have largely been little-known rookies.

Not any more.

Andrew and Aller are suddenly poster-boys for so many multicultural footballers who can dream bigger than perhaps they ever believed.

Fancy that – not one, but two African boys taken in the first round after none in the history of the draft.

Premiership coach Adam Simpson controversially said this year that Covid-related budget cuts could come at the cost of recruiting project players.

“You’re more inclined to go safer in the draft and you’ll draft the same type of player,” Simpson said.

“You know, mum and dad are still married, the kids go to the private school. They’re not too much of a hassle off-field.”

Mac Andrew celebrates with his family after being drafted by the Suns. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Simpson was criticised, and later apologised, but the sentiment that football was becoming more and more a game for privileged private school boys was shared by many in the industry.

There’s no suggestion that Andrew or Aleer will be hard work, but they certainly don’t fit the cookie-cutter model Simpson was referring to.

After all, the Giants targeted a tall with their second and final live pick – they’ll match a bid for left-footer Josh Fahey on Thursday – and landed on Aleer in no small part because of his brilliant character.

Those who have played on Aleer say he is damn hard to get a kick on, having flourished when he rolled back to defence in a move inspired by All-Australian centre half-back Allir Allir.

‘Big Mac’ is the 201cm boy from Berwick who started the year bound for Melbourne as an academy player, before it soon became apparent he was too good to qualify under the AFL’s new draft rules.

The Suns think Andrew needs more “meat on his bones”, but they love his two-sided skills for a big bloke.

Watching the Under-18 All-Australian embrace mum, dad and his six brothers and sisters at the London Tavern pub was the heartwarming moment of the night.

Leek Aleer was the bolter of the first round.

Andrew idolised Joel Selwood as a boy and North Melbourne’s No. 1 pick Jason Horne-Francis is a little like Selwood below his knees … and Michael Voss in the air.

Horne-Francis looked half asleep when he became a Roo as a TV glitch meant he missed his magical moment.

But Malcolm Blight was on hand in South Australia to present his No. 6 Roos jumper and Brisbane baby Darcy Wilmot made up for that understated reaction with a stacks-on celebration in Montmorency.

Last year the Western Bulldogs matched the highest-ever academy bid, taking Jamarra Ugle-Hagan at No. 1, and on Wednesday night they matched the highest-ever father-son bid, taking Sam Darcy at No.2.

No club has ever had a No. 1 and No. 2 draft pick ready to slot into a grand final team.

It’s possible the Dogs could trot out a 22 featuring a Darcy, a West, a Liberatore, a Hunter, a Wallis and a Cordy next season.

Perhaps Prince’s 1999 (Let’s Party Like It’s 1999) should replace Freed From Desire as their unofficial locker room anthem after the first time that sextet links arms for what would be the most authentic rendition of Sons of the West ever.

Coach Sam Mitchell and the Hawks recruiting staff at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Giants bid on Darcy with the second pick as the simmering rivalry between those clubs spilt on to draft night.

The Giants then took outside midfielder Finn Callaghan, who switched from a St Kilda supporter to the Bulldogs when Luke Beveridge was appointed coach in 2015.

Callaghan’s mother, Lara, is a cousin of Beveridge’s wife, Dana.

This kid plays with composure. Is he more Jackson Macrae or Josh Kelly? This year’s growth spurt – and charge up talent orders – have shades of another left-footer in Marcus Bontempelli.

Callaghan’s father Brett competed in the 1994 Commonwealth Games and don’t be surprised if he packs a Grey Nicholls for the move to Sydney, having made 54 in Mordialloc’s senior cricket premiership in March.

Most clubs rated Nick Daicos at No. 1 because his footy IQ is better than the rest, and he hasn’t started a game without finishing it best-afield in a very long time.

But as Black Friday sales sweep the world it was Daicos who came at a big discount – secured at pick 4 – and the kid who cheered for Carlton growing up will now don famous father Peter’s No. 35 jumper next year.

The six bolters have meant another sleepless night for a bunch of teenagers rated in the first round.

And Fremantle now holds the sweetest selection – the first pick on Thursday night – which means it can sit back and watch the offers pile up from clubs who can’t believe a player they love is still on the board.

There’s still 192cm midfielder Matt Johnson as well as Tyler Sonsie, Sam Butler, Arlo Draper, Jesse Motlop, Blake Howes, Connor McDonald and Josh Goater, who will now have his draft night clash with his graduation.

There’s no question the talent will flow right throughout the second round on Thursday night.

Originally published as AFL Draft 2021: Jason Horne-Francis has turned down North’s offer to wear Carey’s No.18