Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

[comrade]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

Can’t agree with mjp on this one. The best young kids go to the worst clubs, that’s how the draft should work (except if you’re the Bulldogs where NGA and Father/Sons rain down from the sky). Yes, the club has to provide a good environment and outline a path forward towards future success, but the kid also needs to buckle in for the ride.

In this case, it’s clear he’s not up for the challenge. It’s a big red flag for his overall attitude and my guess is he’ll end up a middling type player who turns his toes up when it gets too hard.

[mjp]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

In this case, it’s clear he’s not up for the challenge.

I just don't understand how anyone can say this.

He just won their best first year player award. He was far from terrible on field...and what exactly has he done wrong?

Missed a recovery session - was dropped, played VFL...it happens to LOT'S of players (though not with the same profile). He went home to Adelaide on a long weekend...missed no training and it isn't exactly clear whether he knew he needed to inform the club or otherwise...most interstate players are FLOWN HOME by their clubs in these situations - obviously North decided he wasn't worth doing that for?

North were an absolute rabble this year and the coach who kept yelling at him...well, he got sacked. Now the racism stuff which would be so close to his heart...

I don't get the negativity. If North had bid on Daicos (who Collingwood would have taken) then Darcy (who we would have taken) he would be the #3 pick and this would be half the story. Anyways...like I said, mine is a unpopular opinion here. If you want your high picks to stay, treat them well and support them. And make that double if they're from interstate.

[comrade]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

I just don't understand how anyone can say this.

He just won their best first year player award. He was far from terrible on field...and what exactly has he done wrong?

I don't get the negativity. If North had bid on Daicos (who Collingwood would have taken) then Darcy (who we would have taken) he would be the #3 pick and this would be half the story. Anyways...like I said, mine is a unpopular opinion here. If you want your high picks to stay, treat them well and support them. And make that double if they're from interstate.

None of us know how well he was treated and supported by North. The rest of their draftees aren’t leaving en masse, in fact North have done pretty well to retain their younger players over the last few years given their on field results… and if he’s after a coach that doesn’t yell, well good luck to him.

The will he/won’t he go home stuff has been going on since day 1, if the Clarkson stuff is being used as a factor for his decision, it’s likely more out of convenience than a legitimate reason (now that will be an unpopular take).

North aren’t at fault. They should have done more due diligence and never picked him in the first place.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

His step-dad being a First Nations person is reason enough to want to leave. Can only imagine the anguish at having read that story, only to know that there was a real possibility that after an investigation you'd be coached by the person at the centre of the allegations. And in the meantime, you don't have a coach.

From the outside looking in, his on field behaviour this season looked bad. I'm thinking of the berating of a club legend in Todd Goldstein. Who knows though to what extent that was resolved internally, and he's only a kid after all.

From a North point of view, they'll be compensated reasonably well, it might be slightly unders but not a disaster by any means.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

I just don't understand how anyone can say this.

He just won their best first year player award. He was far from terrible on field...and what exactly has he done wrong?

Missed a recovery session - was dropped, played VFL...it happens to LOT'S of players (though not with the same profile). He went home to Adelaide on a long weekend...missed no training and it isn't exactly clear whether he knew he needed to inform the club or otherwise...most interstate players are FLOWN HOME by their clubs in these situations - obviously North decided he wasn't worth doing that for?

North were an absolute rabble this year and the coach who kept yelling at him...well, he got sacked. Now the racism stuff which would be so close to his heart...

I don't get the negativity. If North had bid on Daicos (who Collingwood would have taken) then Darcy (who we would have taken) he would be the #3 pick and this would be half the story. Anyways...like I said, mine is a unpopular opinion here. If you want your high picks to stay, treat them well and support them. And make that double if they're from interstate.

I'm a little surprised at your take on the topic.

You're asking what has JHF done wrong - which, I think there's been 'enough' to see that there's multiple issues from very early on in the piece even WITHOUT knowing the full detail - but then assuming/blaming North without any real concrete evidence?

Could North have handled things better? Probably, but to solely blame them and use them as a convenient scapegoat to protect JHF is a cop out IMO.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

This is a great discussion.


MJP for the win.

The balance between a clubs responsibility to provide a nurturing and welcoming environment v a kid feeling uneasy about his place is fascinating to me.

It's a rare occurrence I guess that's why it's such a great and timely debate.

[comrade]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

His step-dad being a First Nations person is reason enough to want to leave. Can only imagine the anguish at having read that story, only to know that there was a real possibility that after an investigation you'd be coached by the person at the centre of the allegations. And in the meantime, you don't have a coach.

From the outside looking in, his on field behaviour this season looked bad. I'm thinking of the berating of a club legend in Todd Goldstein. Who knows though to what extent that was resolved internally, and he's only a kid after all.

From a North point of view, they'll be compensated reasonably well, it might be slightly unders but not a disaster by any means.

There’s been multiple public examples of behaviour that hasn’t met the standard - the Goldstein thing, some really lacklustre defensive stuff that is more about attitude and care than ability, the VFL demotion etc. This is only the stuff we’ve been privy to, I can only assume there’s more examples that have been kept behind closed doors. And this was all before Clarkson was on the scene.

Yeah, he’s a kid. But kids still know the virtues of respect, work ethic, obligation and responsibility. North will be better off without a player like him who doesn’t want to be on the bus. Can you imagine Bont or Jacko pulling the pin in October of 2014? Not a chance, those kids were up for the challenge (or were given some good advice to stick fat from their parents/advisors).

Maybe being home at Port will uncover a new level of professionalism in him, but I have my doubts. The workplace isn’t always going to be easy and fun. Pro sport is a different level of pressure again. It’s the hard times and what it drags out of you that makes you better and stronger. JHF has taken the easy way, and I won’t be surprised if he finds out easy isn’t always best.

[Topdog]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

Was JHF really the only player in the league this season to miss a recovery session?

[Scorlibo]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

There’s been multiple public examples of behaviour that hasn’t met the standard - the Goldstein thing, some really lacklustre defensive stuff that is more about attitude and care than ability, the VFL demotion etc. This is only the stuff we’ve been privy to, I can only assume there’s more examples that have been kept behind closed doors. And this was all before Clarkson was on the scene.

Yeah, he’s a kid. But kids still know the virtues of respect, work ethic, obligation and responsibility. North will be better off without a player like him who doesn’t want to be on the bus. Can you imagine Bont or Jacko pulling the pin in October of 2014? Not a chance, those kids were up for the challenge (or were given some good advice to stick fat from their parents/advisors).

Maybe being home at Port will uncover a new level of professionalism in him, but I have my doubts. The workplace isn’t always going to be easy and fun. Pro sport is a different level of pressure again. It’s the hard times and what it drags out of you that makes you better and stronger. JHF has taken the easy way, and I won’t be surprised if he finds out easy isn’t always best.

From David Noble (via SEN):

Noble was steadfast that Horne-Francis embraced being the number one draft pick and never showed any disinterest during their time together at North.

“He did (embrace it), very much so,” he said further.

“He was one of the most determined and driven young men I’ve had the pleasure of working with."

If anything it seems like he was in too much of a hurry to succeed and in the frustration of not getting there showed a bit of disrespect towards his teammates and the club. Not great but there are much worse problems to have as an 18 yo.

[Mofra]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

Was JHF really the only player in the league this season to miss a recovery session?

Did he actually miss a session, or (as North fans state) skip an ice bath?

[Topdog]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

Did he actually miss a session, or (as North fans state) skip an ice bath?

Sounded like it was just an ice bath but honestly for me the final result is irrelevant as I can guarantee he wouldnt be the only player yet he is the only 1 we hear about.

[Bornadog]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

I have been reading all the replies and thinking about the OP.

Players entering the draft system must be prepared to play at a club that they may not want to, and that includes playing on the other side of the country. However, if they have been treated badly and put under undue duress etc, then they should have the right to ask for a trade. It is up to the club to sort things out and accept or not the request.

I don't knowing anything about what has happened at North with JHF, but as outlined by MJP, doesn't sound good.

[DOG GOD]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

At the end of the day, he was shattered to go to north…just like Buckley at bears. Neither wanted to be there. JHF would’ve had no intention of being at North in 2023 when he was drafted.

[mjp]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

Neither wanted to be there. JHF would’ve had no intention of being at North in 2023 when he was drafted.

Again - disagree. I think he went with the best of intentions. But the experience at North has not been as it was advertised. I think we are all underestimating the impact of the recruiting team who SELECTED HIM leaving will have had...the relationships with those guys would have been amongst his key relationships at NM.

North have been generationally bad this year. An 18yo has been made a scapegoat for some of it. Clarkson is caught up in a scandal and if you have relationships with First Nations people then, well, THEY are the ones you would believe here. He wants out. I would too.

[DOG GOD]

Re: Unpopular opinion: Jason Horne-Francis is RIGHT to ask for a trade.

Again - disagree. I think he went with the best of intentions. But the experience at North has not been as it was advertised. I think we are all underestimating the impact of the recruiting team who SELECTED HIM leaving will have had...the relationships with those guys would have been amongst his key relationships at NM.

North have been generationally bad this year. An 18yo has been made a scapegoat for some of it. Clarkson is caught up in a scandal and if you have relationships with First Nations people then, well, THEY are the ones you would believe here. He wants out. I would too.

I agree, I’d want out of there too…100%
But realistically his attitude towards the year was poor…really poor in fact. No doubt when he was drafted, port and Adelaide would’ve all been in his ear…who knows what goes on behind closed doors. You make valid points MJP, absolutely, but I don’t think he wanted to be there.