Young North Melbourne star and former number 1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis is reportedly wanting out of the Kangaroos.
The 18-year-old appeared increasingly frustrated on field during North's 49-point loss to GWS in Round 13 after a nightmare season has left the club with just one win from 13 matches.
Speaking on SEN SA Breakfast, presenter Kane Cornes revealed that the 2021 number one draft pick is now starting to internally voice his discontent at the club.
“The fresh information that I’ve got for you this morning is that he is making noises that he wants out,” Cornes said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“That’s what I can reveal for you this morning that Jason Horne-Francis has started to, and you can see that manifesting in his on-field performance, but behind the scenes he is making noises – that was the term put to me, that he wants out of the North Melbourne Football Club.
“This is the dilemma for Port Adelaide and the Crows because that is where he wants his football future to be.
“Now whether North Melbourne can turn him around on that and whether they can convince him to stay and they can refuse any trade request at the end of this year because he is contracted.”
Horne-Francis has played 12 matches for the Kangaroos so far in his debut year, averaging 17 disposals and 4.2 clearances per game. However, the young star, who was the first number one draft pick in North Melbourne's history, will be sidelined for the next two weeks after being handed a ban by the MRO for striking Giant Josh Kelly.
In an underwhelming season for North, rumours have swirled that the 18-year-old could head back to his native South Australia, despite being contracted until the end of 2023.
Cornes said that both Adelaide and Port Adelaide would have to consider the internal ramifications at their clubs should they want to acquire Horne-Francis, whose signature would be worth a sizeable figure.
“The dilemma for Port Adelaide and the Crows is this: You’ve got a player who’s carrying on like that and disrespecting his teammates and not listening to feedback and now being undisciplined on the field and his effort is being questioned and his attitude is clearly being questioned,” Cornes said.
“Could Port Adelaide or the Crows, because it’s going to take like $800,000 on a salary to get him, how would you go if you had to walk up to say Ollie Wines and say ‘I’m going to pay this second-year player more than you’re on’.
“How would that sit amongst the culture of the club? The Adelaide list manager is going to have to say to Rory Laird – ‘hey Rory you’ve probably been our best and most consistent players for the last five years, but we’re going to get this second-year player in and pay him more than you’.
“That’s the first bit of the dilemma that Port and the Crows have to stomach. How does he fit in the hierarchy of the footy club? A second-year player who hasn’t achieved a lot."
Horne-Francis is scheduled to return from his suspension in Round 17 against Collingwood.
