North Melbourne great and development coach Brent Harvey has leapt to the defence of the club's prized rookie Jason Horne-Francis, calling on the media to place a greater focus on some of the positives that have been on show from the teenager this year.

The South Australian has been among headlines in recent weeks as many have begun to question his desire to remain at Arden Street despite just 12 games into his AFL career.

Horne-Francis is already understood to have hit pause on discussions for an extension with the Roos following the club's advances to lock away the first overall pick from last year's National Draft.

The ongoing speculation, coupled with North Melbourne's woes and the unwelcomed expectations that are trusted onto top draft selections, have continued to amplify the frustrations for Horne-Francis and the Kangaroos this year.

Despite the widening coverage of any misstep the teenager makes, little has been placed on Horne-Francis' effortless ability to transition from junior football to the top tier.

The bullish onballer ranks among the top five at North Melbourne for contested possessions, clearances and tackles to start the season, whilst being among the leading centre bounce attendees within the Roos' midfield.

While understanding the pressure that is placed on Horne-Francis' shoulders, Harvey has called for AFL media circles to shine more light on the 18-year-old's positive start to the season.

"We've gotta be a little bit careful here," Harvey told Triple M's Dead Set Legends. 

"I understand football. He's the No.1 pick so we dissect everything he does compared to every other player in the competition.

"I tell ya what I'd love, I’d love some journos to focus on some of the good stuff he’s doing because he’s doing some stuff on the football field that I haven’t seen an 18-year-old doing.

"His effort and his intent to actually make tackles and to get over and support a teammate. There is some other stuff he's gotta work on, no doubt.

"The focus is on him, but he does do a lot of good stuff for no reward. He does get a little bit of reward within the football club, but outside a lot of people aren't seeing that.

"We've got to understand he's 18 (years old)."

Theories erupted last weekend when Horne-Francis and veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein were captured in a heated conversation during half-time of last week's loss to GWS.

When speaking on the incident, Harvey stated it was a positive to see the youngster upset and invested in the team's struggles, labelling it "healthy conflict".

"Some people highlighted the fact he was arguing or talking to Todd Goldstein... that's healthy conflict," Harvey said of the verbal altercation.

"If that doesn't happen, you're not going to go anywhere.  That stuff has got to be smashed on the field and then you take about it at quarter-time, half-time, after the game, on Monday in the review.

"I actually think all that stuff in football is quite good. We highlight it and some people just don't understand that's healthy conflict then.

"If he walked away and he didn't want to argue or speak to Todd Goldstein, I would say that was a problem.

"Jason's got a lot of work to do, as every other 18-year-old in the completion has. It's take the good with the bad sometimes."

Horne-Francis and North Melbourne will enjoy a week's break with their Round 14 bye before facing Adelaide at Blundstone Arena next Sunday.