A New Role, New Opportunities
Port Adelaide’s challenging start to the new season has meant that Jason Horne-Francis’ contributions have often gone unnoticed, despite his impressive impact on the field. The Power have managed only two wins from their six matches so far, yet they have remained competitive in all but one game, with three losses by margins of 14 points or less.
One aspect of the team’s performance that is proving effective is Horne-Francis’ new role under coach Josh Carr. He is now spending more time deep inside the 50, which has led to an average of 1.7 goals per game and four games where he has scored multiple goals. This performance is beginning to rival some of the league’s top players, including Isaac Heeney, Kysaiah Pickett, Shai Bolton, Marcus Bontempelli, and Christian Petracca.
In a recent match against Hawthorn, Horne-Francis kicked two goals from 28 disposals, despite attending only 60% of the centre ball-ups. This allowed Carr to use him more freely in the forward half, which proved beneficial for the team. A week earlier, he delivered a similar performance against St Kilda, collecting 26 disposals and scoring two goals from just 44% of centre bounce attendances.
A Strategic Shift
This new role is clearly working for Horne-Francis. A deeper look at his statistics reveals that he has recorded his second-lowest percentage of centre-square attendances in his career, dipping below 50% (46.8%). The only other time this happened was when he entered the AFL as the league’s Pick 1 ahead of the 2022 season.
Despite this shift, his output has not been limited. Horne-Francis is averaging a near career-best 21.3 disposals while having a greater impact with the ball in hand. AFL great Garry Lyon believes that if Horne-Francis continues on this trajectory, he could potentially join the ranks of players like Heeney, provided he adds one major element to his game.
Heeney is currently on a career-best tear, averaging 24.6 disposals and two goals per game. Lyon said on SEN: “He’s got all of the attributes of Isaac Heeney. This is no disrespect to Isaac because Isaac’s got consistency, he’s been doing it for a long time, he’s got mental strength and all those things that Jason Horne-Francis hasn’t proven yet.”
“But in terms of pure football ability, his ability to win contested footy, his ability to kick the ball and hit a target, his ability to play forward and mark like Isaac Heeney, he’s got all of the Heeney qualities. He’s got them all, but he hasn’t displayed them anywhere near as consistently as Isaac has over the course of a period of more than three or four years.”
“I’m not saying he’s Isaac Heeney now, but he has every single aspect of his game which should allow him to get to the Isaac Heeney stage.”
Rising Through the Ranks
Horne-Francis has always shown undeniable talent, but his early career was clouded by controversy after leaving North Melbourne just one season in to return home. Overshadowed at times by superstar teammates Zak Butters and Connor Rozee, he’s often been overlooked in the broader spotlight.
Now, though, he’s emerging on his own terms — no longer in the shadows, but beginning to cast one of his own. With his new role and consistent performances, Horne-Francis is showing that he can be a key player for Port Adelaide. His ability to perform under pressure and contribute significantly in crucial moments is setting the stage for a promising future in the AFL.
