Kangaroos youngster Jason Horne-Francis has revealed the taunt he received from Carlton’s Jack Silvagni during the pair’s heated exchange on the weekend.
Silvagni took umbrage with a late off-ball hit on him from Horne-Francis during the third quarter of Carlton’s win, with cameras showing the pair engaging in fisticuffs as the ball moved into Carlton’s forward line on the opposite side of the ground.
Silvagni was seen pointing his finger at last year’s No.1 pick, unleashing some choice words before walking away.
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After being named round seven’s Rising Star, Horne-Francis opened up on the exchange, revealing exactly what was said.
“He just said that we weren’t very good and I wasn’t very good,” Horne-Francis told reporters.
“But it was a lot of heat of the moment and didn’t take anything to heart.
“It’s just in my nature, sticking up for my teammates, it’s something I love doing and I think a lot of it was just heat of the moment but that’s something that comes naturally.
“For me that’s just how I want to be playing week in, week out.”
The 18-year-old earned rave reviews for his fiery tussle with Silvagni, with his coach David Noble one of those impressed.
“That’s what attracted (him to) us… as the No.1 pick,” Noble said.
“We saw a fair bit of that when he was playing at South (Adelaide). There were a few teams that tried to tough him up over there.
“We liked the fact he was prepared to stand his ground, but what I loved about it was the next contest he went after the ball and put his mitts on the ball again.
“That’s what you want as a coach, fly the flag but don’t give up possession of the ball.”