Jason Horne-Francis cops warning after North Melbourne star picked up hamstring knock following trip home to Adelaide without club’s permission – with No 1 draft pick stalling over new contract with struggling Roos
- Jason Horne-Francis has copped a warning after going home without permission
- The No 1 draft pick travelled to Adelaide for Mother’s Day after Round 8
- He was pictured in a nightclub with friends, unaware of breaching club rules
- North say it was an innocent mix up and have chosen not to punish the youngster
Last year’s No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis was spoken to by North Melbourne for taking an interstate trip without the AFL club’s knowledge.
Horne-Francis flew to Adelaide for Mother’s Day after their round-eight loss to Fremantle and after a succession of flights in a short period, he missed round nine with hamstring tightness.
Football boss Daniel McPherson told some players if it would be possible for them to see their mothers, but Horne-Francis took it upon himself to fly home to Adelaide.
Jason Horne-Francis has copped a warning from North Melbourne for flying home after Rd 8
He posted photos of himself with friends in an Adelaide nightclub on social media, unaware that he had broken club protocols.
Horne-Francis flew back to Melbourne on Monday night and reported his hamstring problem during training on Tuesday. Coach David Noble opted to rest him the next week.
The Roos have since told the young gun that they would prefer to be told when he is flying home, due to implications for players including ASADA Whereabouts provisions that mean clubs need to provide updates to drug testers about the availability of their players.
Yet given the innocent mix up, Horne-Francis has not been punished for the misunderstanding.
Ben Williams, who represents Horne-Francis, told The Herald Sun: ‘He was given a weekend off and he went home for Mother’s Day. I don’t even know why this is a story.’
The young star has put contract talks with the club on hold until the end of the season.
North are wallowing at second-last on the ladder with only one win from 10 games and are ahead of West Coast on percentage.
They have not made the finals since 2016 and second-year coach David Noble had to defend himself earlier this month after news broke of a post-game spray he had given his players.
The No 1 draft pick went to Adelaide after the Roos loss to Freo, against the club’s protocols
Details of what happened immediately after they lost to Brisbane by 108 points in round three were leaked to the media.
‘The intention was correct, I believe that there is still a place for being direct and firm with your playing group, but just the delivery was probably not the right time,’ Noble said.
‘We all get emotional at that point in time.’
Noble added reports some of the Kangaroos’ younger players were upset about the harsh address were not true, as far as he was aware.
Noble also denied reports there has been a major change in his game plan, with North’s only win of the year to date coming against a depleted West Coast side in round two.
Following this latest drama, Rawlings said on Tuesday night North were ready for the mid-season draft despite losing the three staff.
He was unable to play Round 9 due to a hamstring knock and he has not been punished for the innocent misunderstanding
But he conceded it was a setback.
‘I don’t think there’s ever an ideal timing for when you lose staff. It’s always a challenge,’ Rawlings told 3AW.
‘We’re really well prepared (for the draft) … there’s nothing that’s going to change between now and next Wednesday that’s going to affect anything we do for pre-season.’
He added Birthisel had been approached to leave the AFL industry and had gone with his blessing.
Finnigan had been at Arden St for 17 years while Birthisel joined more than a decade ago with Luff going to the Kangaroos in 2018.