Why Russell thinks Horne-Francis could end up as Port Adelaide's greatest AFL player ever

SEN host Dwayne Russell thinks that Jason Horne-Francis could end up being the greatest player in Port Adelaide’s AFL history.

The 21-year-old was named in his first All-Australian squad of 44 on Monday night and Russell has picked him in his final team of 22 in the forward pocket.

While the young gun is just three years into his AFL career, Russell thinks that Horne-Francis’ desire and competitiveness mixed with his natural football instinct could make him the club’s best player since they joined the national competition in 1997.

“I actually think Jason Horne-Francis could end up being the best Port Adelaide AFL player ever,” Russell told SEN Afternoons.

“There's been some greats, some SANFL greats and we know that the greatest player Port Adelaide’s ever had is Russell Ebert and you’ve got Craig Bradley, Greg Phillips and a heap of these guys.

“But the Hornet, he embodies the way the Port Adelaide creed says you should play. He attacks every ball like it's the last ball he's ever going to attack and like his life depends on it.

“He plays each passage like it's the opening to an Indiana Jones movie - it's one life-threatening contest to the next … he can have three defining moments in one passage of play.

“If the ball is alive and he's on in a game, he wants it. He'll mark his own 50m kick one day that’s how desperately he sprints to the next contest.”

Russell thinks that the way Horne-Francis can one day become the club’s all-time AFL great is by finishing his career with one or two premierships.

Currently, Russell has 2004 premiership skipper Warren Tredrea as his pick for the club’s greatest AFL-era player ahead of Travis Boak, Robbie Gray and Gavin Wanganeen.

“I'm a Horne-Francis fan, I love the way he plays, and I think he could end up being the best Port Adelaide AFL player ever if he ends up being involved in a premiership or two,” Russell said.

“You’ve got Warren Tredrea, who I think is still number one.

“Travis Boak has he's never played in a flag, but he might be about to play in one.

“Robbie Gray who hasn't played in one would be up there and Gavin Wanganeen is obviously a superstar of the comp.

“But I am a Horne-Francis fan.” 

Horne-Francis will hope to pick up a premiership in 2024 as the Power enters the finals series as the second-ranked team.