North Melbourne have selected boom South Australian teenager Jason Horne-Francis as the No.1 pick in the national draft.
Horne-Francis, 18, is an explosive, goal-kicking midfielder in the Patrick Dangerfield mould who has been playing senior football for South Adelaide for a season-and-a-half, including a starring role in a SANFL preliminary final.
No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis.Credit:AFL Photos
The Kangaroos took their full five minutes to pick Horne-Francis as a pair of pick trades were lodged, and the South Adelaide product revealed his screen had “shut off” while he and his family nervously waited for North Melbourne to confirm the selection.
“It was a bit weird, the TV sort of just shut off and we couldn’t see much,” Horne-Francis told Fox Footy. “Luckily Ben, my manager, took us up to his phone and luckily we were able to watch it.”
The prime pick, who is the stepson of former Port Adelaide player Fabian Francis, added that he was excited to join the Roos’ on-ball brigade.
“North are [heading] in the right direction and we’ve got a lot of young talent and young midfielders … it’s going to be really exciting.”
Horne-Francis is expected be ready to play for the Kangaroos, who had the No.1 pick due to finishing 18th in 2021. North won four matches and have an improving list under coach David Noble.
Greater Western Sydney placed a bid on Sam Darcy with pick two, but the Bulldogs were quick to match it and confirm their prized father-son as a third generation Dog.
Darcy, an athletic, 205-centimetre tall, can play at either end of the ground but turned heads as a key forward in the early stages of 2021, particularly through a six-goal display against Vic Country in a state trials match.
‘We couldn’t see much’: North pick Horne-Francis at No.1
Source: Philippines Alive
