The first number one draft pick in North Melbourne's long history, Jason Horne-Francis, arrives with anticipation and duly-earned hype.

A midfielder by trade, Horne-Francis also spent considerable time perfecting his game as a forward at SANFL level, as well as playing periods of the 2021 season in defence. While being tried and tested in different areas of the ground affected his statistics in 2021 (he averaged 16.5 disposals and 0.8 goals per contest) the footballing development gained bodes well for his transition into AFL football.

Mentored by former No.1 pick Bryce Gibbs at the Panthers, Horne-Francis played a crucial role in South Adelaide’s run to the finals and lead his team to a near-victory in a preliminary final showcase against Glenelg. Appearing to retain a big-game mentality, Horne-Francis saved his best performance of the year for his side’s biggest game of the season, finishing with 24 disposals, 11 clearances and 3 goals.

Named as captain of South Australia’s under 19 team in his draft year, he has leadership and interpersonal skills that are so highly valued by football clubs. It’s always difficult to tone down the level of expectation on the top picks in the draft and it’s good to remember Horne-Francis is still just 18 years old, but he possesses all the attributes to become a strong contender at AFL level.