Port Adelaide's shaky start to the new season has meant that Jason Horne-Francis' efforts have largely gone unnoticed, despite his more-than-impressive influence.
The Power have slumped to two wins from six starts, but have been competitive in all but one match, losing three contests by 14 points or less.
However, one thing that is working is Horne-Francis' new role under Josh Carr, spending more time deep inside 50, resulting in an average of 1.7 goals per game, and four multiple-goal games.
It's a return that is rivalling some of the game's best players, such as Isaac Heeney, Kysaiah Pickett, Shai Bolton, Marcus Bontempelli and Christian Petracca.
On the weekend, Horne-Francis slotted two majors from 28 possessions in the narrow loss to Hawthorn, attending only 60 percent of centre ball-ups, allowing Carr to use him freely in the front half. It paid dividends.
A week earlier, the 22-year-old delivered a near-identical performance against St Kilda, collecting 26 disposals and two goals from just 44 percent centre bounce attendance.
It's a role that's working.
A deeper dive shows the former Roo has recorded his second-lowest percentage of centre-square attendances in his career, dipping below 50 percent (46.8). The only other time was when he entered the AFL as the league's Pick 1 ahead of 2022.
The shift hasn't limited his output, with Horne-Francis averaging a near career-best 21.3 disposals while having greater impact with the ball in hand.
AFL great Garry Lyon says if the Power gun can continue on this trajectory, he can join Heeney, if he adds one major element to his match.
Heeney is currently on a career-best tear, averaging 24.6 disposals and two goals.
"He's got all of the attributes of Isaac Heeney," Lyon said on SEN.
"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."
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.
