Jason Horne-Francis was compared to all-time greats Michael Voss and Patrick Dangerfield during North Melbourne’s scouting process as they salivated over a “special, generational” talent.
The 18-year-old midfielder was picked No.1 by the giddy Kangaroos in last year’s AFL draft and exclusive footage from inside their inner sanctum shows just how much of a no-brainer that decision was.
Episode one of Stan’s new documentary Show Me The Money – which premieres today – filmed North Melbourne’s scouts watching footage of South Adelaide’s SANFL preliminary final against Glenelg.
Stan’s blockbuster new AFL documentary series Show Me The Money premiers on March 10. Click here to sign up and watch!
“For an 18-year-old kid to do what he did in a final, and the rumour that he had a sore quad prior, he went forward and nearly won them the game,” Kangaroos list manager Glenn Luff gushed.
“He hit the post twice, it could have been five goals. I got to the end of the game and I wrote down he’s the most complete player I’ve seen and he’s ended up with the most complete game of the year.”
Luff then asked Scott Clayton, the club’s head of player personnel, to offer a player comparison.
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“Jeez it’d be a heavy tag if I tag him with somebody but there’s certainly a bit of Voss and there’s a bit of Dangerfield isn’t there?” Clayton said, referring to the two AFL champions.
“His change of pace to get into position is as elite as I’ve ever seen.”
Luff concurred: “He’s the closest thing to Danger I’ve seen.”
Horne-Francis stands 1.85m and weighs 81kg.
He started playing against men at 16 and averaged 16.5 disposals, 3.2 clearances and 4.2 tackles playing for South Adelaide.
“I first noticed Jason’s talent as a bottom ager for the under-16s,” said his agent Ben Williams.
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“You just saw this freak of nature who was a great player, not really having a chink which is pretty rare, to not have a chink in your armour at the age of 15.
“Multi-skilled, fast, competitive, tough and I thought he’s going to be a special player. Why he’s special on the field is that he has such a complete game. There’s such an unbelievable burst from stoppage, he’s very explosive.
“And he does the team things, the selfless things.”
Jade Robran, Williams’ wife and business partner at Players Ink, was equally impressed with Horne Francis’ maturity after guiding him through the pre-draft process.
“Even in this whole journey, where everybody’s talking about him being No.1 and a once in a generation player, not once has it got to his head,” Robran said.
“Jase didn’t need to front cameras or go on radio or be quoted in the newspaper because everyone else would be talking about him. Everyone wants him but there’s only one club that can get him.”
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