Jason Horne-Francis has gained the AFL’s “highest praise” after silencing his critics with arguably his career-best efficiency in Port Adelaide’s seven-point win over St Kilda on Friday night time.
After hitting a career-high 11 clearances and a game-high 18 contested possessions within the victory over the Saints, Fox Footy’s Eddie Betts likened Horne-Francis to a younger Patrick Dangerfield.
“Patrick Dangerfield has got that ability to be low, stay centred and then burst from the pack – it’s the highest praise you can give a young fella in the modern game and it’s well deserved,” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon mentioned.
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Opposition coach Ross Lyon weighed in on the booing saga that adopted Horne-Francis to Marvel Stadium on Friday night time, with the Saints boss adamant the tactic to place the teenager off his sport “clearly doesn’t work”.
“He was big! He had 10 ground balls – he was pretty powerful,” Lyon praised.
“I don’t want to get into the storm it is, right? There’s a couple of things people will do in a mob that they wouldn’t do as individuals so maybe check yourself and don’t do that.
“There’s a lot of mental stress on players.
“If you’re doing it to put him off his game, which I’d make an assumption you are, it clearly doesn’t work which is good for the kid.
“I watched Dave Chappelle last night and (he) spoke about people punching down on people – let’s not punch down on a 19-year-old.”
Betts mentioned he had little doubt the Port teenager was shining shiny following his return dwelling to household and buddies in South Australia.
“He was an absolute star today,” he mentioned.
“He did it all today.
“His pace around the pack, around those stoppages – he burst out of it! It was like a Dangerfield game!
“He never goes to ground, he’s strong through the hips and breaks tackles.
“He’s coming of age.
“He’s like a bull.
“He goes straight through the pack like Paddy does.”
Horne-Francis was capable of block out the boos which have plagued him since he introduced his choice to depart North Melbourne after just one season because the membership’s prized primary decide.
“He was a beast in there, and that’s what I love to see,” teammate Charlie Dixon mentioned.
“He cops it from every which way and the kid just relishes it and just goes after the footy.
“All he’s worried about is playing footy – he’s a very happy kid and an amazing talent.
“And we are so privileged to have him on our team – he’s such a good kid.”
Fox Footy’s Nathan Buckley mentioned the efficiency towards St Kilda confirmed a side of his sport he didn’t know {the teenager} possessed.
“He’s a big boy in his second year,” he mentioned.
“What he did tonight was not what I’d scouted for him – we knew he was a high talent. We’d seen snippets of him out in the open, hitting targets, showing that outside skill.
“But what I saw tonight I didn’t know he had.
“He’s shown that real inside will to go second, third, fourth efforts.
“That capacity to get from the inside to the outside, and to do it consistently over four quarters – I think it’s the first four quarter performance he’s put together.”
Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon was stuffed with reward for the best way Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley had embraced Horne-Francis in his return dwelling and supplied him with added assist.
“You’ve got to invest in your players … I think he’s done that with Jason Horne-Francis and we’re seeing the fruits of it now and what a number one draft pick can produce,” he mentioned on Fox Footy Live.
The teenager’s efficiency was made extra spectacular by the very fact Horne-Francis was as soon as once more focused by followers who booed him relentlessly at Marvel Stadium.
“That’s embarrassing from the St Kilda footy club,” Lyon mentioned.
“I don’t know why they’re doing it, their club’s flying.
“Everyone has paid their money, has the right to boo. I don’t like it.
“You are entitled (to boo), but sometimes the reflection is on you, and not the player.”
Saints nice Brendon Goddard had mentioned pre-game he’d be “very disappointed” if St Kilda followers engaged within the shameful booing that’s rising week by week.
Port coach Ken Hinkley additionally spoke passionately in Horne-Francis’ defence pre-match.
“All I’ve asked is that people treat him with some respect … for people to say ‘you sign up for that’ – you don’t, actually,” Hinkley mentioned on ABC Radio.
“I don’t want our best young talent to get scared off playing the game because of what happens outside the fence.”
Horne-Francis completed the match with 25 disposals, seven tackles, seven inside 50s, greater than 460m gained and 7 rating involvements.
Originally printed as ‘He’s a beast’: Booing saga sparks rise of AFL ‘bull’ amid beautiful Danger comparability
Source: www.news.com.au
