Port Adelaide star on-baller Jason Horne-Francis admits he needs to find "balance" in his game following his stoush with former teammates at North Melbourne.
Horne-Francis received scrutiny following his engagement with Kangaroos captain Jy Simpkin and ruckman Tristan Xerri, which resulted in intervention from coach Ken Hinkley, captain Connor Rozee and vice-captain Zak Butters at three-quarter time.
The former Pick 1 was also fined $1,875 by the Match Review Officer (MRO) for instigating a melee, which is his second offence for the season.
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Horne-Francis opened up on his clash with North Melbourne, and despite his impressive 27 disposals, seven score involvements, six clearances, a goal and five coaches' votes, he acknowledged the need to be better.
"I feel like I left on good terms there and I was good mates with a lot of the boys there and still catch up with some of them now," Horne-Francis said on 104.7 Triple M.
"(Josh) Carry always says he loves when I play on the edge a little bit. It feels like it brings out the best in me a little bit.
"But I think there's a fine line between playing on the edge and then going over the top a little bit. Just trying to find that balance still, there's plenty of things that I can still work on."
Butters described Horne-Francis as a "raging bull" and likened the 21-year-old to himself, who also plays on the edge as one of the most fined players in AFL history.
North Melbourne's tactics to get into the psyche of Horne-Francis have been deployed by opposition clubs before, and is what is to be expected week to week for the Power barometer.
"Yeah, it's definitely (there). I'd do the same thing," Horne-Francis 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.
Jason Horne-Francis has poured cold water on suggestions he should be dropped for the way he dealt with Ken Hinkley on the weekend. He was candid about what sparked the fiery exchange with his ex-teammates, the words of wisdom that calmed him down and his apology. @joshmoney__ pic.twitter.com/NU86Fj9gNt
โ 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) April 29, 2025
"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 โฆ 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."
Port Adelaide has turned around a 0-4 start to sit in 10th position after three consecutive victories.
They'll travel to Ballarat to take on the Western Bulldogs at Mars Stadium.
