Why Horne-Francis wears his socks up and why Blight thinks all AFL players should follow suit

Port Adelaide’s Jason Horne-Francis is one of a dying breed of AFL players who wears their socks up.

In what was the look in most of footy history up until the 2000s, most players now wear their socks low around their ankles.

Horne-Francis says that the main reason why he wears them up is to please his father Fabian Francis who played 86 games for Port Adelaide from 1997 to 2001.

The 21-year-old says he’d get a stern talking-to from his dad as a junior whenever his socks weren’t pulled up.

“I always have to have my socks up,” Horne-Francis told SEN Sportsday SA.

“The boys are saying to me that I don't wear my socks up at training or anything like that, but it's kind of only for the games that I do it.

“It’s mainly because I’m a bit superstitious and Dad will spray me if I don't have my socks up.

“I remember when I was younger and if I didn't have my socks up, Dad used to come on the ground and tell me off at quarter-time, so I'll make sure I do it just to get his grumpy old head out of my face (laughs).”

While Horne-Francis wears his socks up for his family and superstitions, Aussie rules icon Malcolm Blight thinks that all players should follow his lead for two main reasons.

“This is what I used to say, and I used to actually make blokes pull their socks up too when I was coaching,” Blight said.

“The reason being as when you get sweaty or on a wet night or slippery night, the weight in your socks around your ankle I reckon can distort your kick.

“Your weight's not exactly the same (with socks around the ankle), so spread it out.

“Also, if you get a stop in the calf, it's less likely to cut it with a sock there.

“So, I don't know why the players have changed, certainly a number of years ago we always had them up.

“I always thought there were two good reasons, first of all, to stop a scratch and secondly to put weight evenly on your leg.”