Jason Horne-Francis speaks on North Melbourne stoush, Ken Hinkley

Jason Horne-Francis has spoken on his run-in with former club North Melbourne and says he’s preparing to be targeted again after showing potential vulnerabilities.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says Jason Horne-Francis is still learning to control his frustrations during games and he is proud for how the midfield star is improving in that area.

Horne-Francis’s temper flared during the third term of the Power’s home win over North Melbourne on Saturday, prompting a three-quarter time talking to from Hinkley and the team’s leaders.

The former Kangaroo responded by helping his side to victory during the last stanza.

He copped external criticism for his behaviour and later apologised to Hinkley, who was optimistic his charge was getting better every day.

JHF takes on North Melbourne

“We all know Jase is learning,” Hinkley said of the 21-year-old.

“There’s not a young player in the game who plays like Jason Horne-Francis who doesn’t have moments of frustration that boil over.

“I thought our young captain and vice-captain did an outstanding job of calming him down, and Jase, to his credit, acknowledged that.

“I’m proud of him for the way he’s improving.

“Young, talented players – Nick Daicos, Jason Horne-Francis, Harley Reid, those sort of players — they get this targeting stuff from the day they walk in, they don’t get that introduction moment.

“What we know about all of them is they’re fiercely competitive, which is what we want.

“They’re going to respond and they learn how to handle that response differently as they mature.”

“He’s an emotional player and I love that about him.”

Ken Hinkley discusses star midfielder Jason Horne-Francis in his post-match press conference: https://t.co/nhivFhMc1dpic.twitter.com/vUrXNpkRLz

— AFL (@AFL) April 26, 2025

HORNE-FRANCIS CONCEDES: I’M WALKING A FINE LINE

— Lauren Wood

Jason Horne-Francis admits he needs to find the “balance” of playing on the edge and crossing the line, and said he needs to find a way to “flip out of that mode”.

The young Power star came under the spotlight in last weekend’s clash with his former side North Melbourne when he was pulled aside by senior teammates Zak Butters and Connor Rozee as he seethed following an incident with ex-teammate Jy Simpkin.

Coach Ken Hinkley was then seen speaking directly to Horne-Francis in an apparent bid to calm him.

The 21-year-old has opened up on the exchange on Wednesday morning, saying he knows he has to work on what he describes as on-field “frustration”.

“I think that’s just what I’ve been working on, when I try and get into my moments I have a little bit of frustration and I can still go out there and play some good footy. I’ve been talking to people at the club that have been helping me with that,” he said on Triple M Adelaide.

“That’s where I’m improving and learning every week trying to go out there and play some consistent footy.

“I’m not sure (if I need to change). Carry (incoming senior coach Josh Carr) always says to me he likes when I play on the edge a little bit and it feels like it brings out the best in me a little bit, but I feel like there’s a fine line between the edge and going over the top a little bit. Just trying to find that balance … there’s plenty of things I can still work on.”

Tristan Xerri stares down Jason Horne-Francis. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Horne-Francis said he knows opposition teams will have seen the weekend’s moment and could be looking to capitalise in a bid to derail him.

“Yeah, it’s definitely (there). I’d do the same thing,” he said.

“That’s just more learning curves for me, knowing that and preparing for teams that might come after me a little bit on that side of the game.

“Speaking with Kenny and the players trying to keep me out of that moment and play on the edge but not go over the top … that’s where I’ve got to improve and hopefully get better and I think I will just by talking to people at the club and finding ways that I can flip out of that mode.”

The midfield star said he and Hinkley had shared many robust chats in his time at the club, and that another had followed.

“We’re lucky in that sense, me and Ken, we move on from things quickly which is a good thing,” he said.

“We had a chat and it was a really good chat, and it was probably what we needed at the time. Kenny needed to get some stuff off his chest and I just needed to listen and acknowledge what he was feeling at the time and what I was feeling.

“We chat every day and it was just one of those chats that needed to be had, and we’re on really good terms like always.”

Originally published as Jason Horne-Francis speaks on North Melbourne stoush, Ken Hinkley