After months of rumours, whispers, and will they/won’t they discussions, Jason Horne-Francis has been confirmed as the North Melbourne Kangaroos’ number one selection in the NAB AFL Draft.

Making his way to Arden Street from South Adelaide, Horne-Francis becomes the Kangaroos’ first ever No.1 draft pick. Here are five things you should know about the club’s newest acquisition.

1. The player

At 185cm and 81kg, Horne-Francis possesses the height and size to be able to impact the game from anywhere on the ground.

A midfielder by trade, he’s just as effective in the forward 50 as he is in the middle of the park, with his agility and instincts making him a serious goal threat to opposition defences.

As part of his overall footballing development, he even spent time as a rebounding half back flanker in 2021, gaining a different perspective on the game from the back half of the ground.

Together with Jy Simpkin (pick 12, 2016), Luke Davies-Uniacke (pick 4, 2017), Jaidyn Stephenson (pick 6, 2017), Tarryn Thomas (pick 8, 2018), Tom Powell (pick 13, 2020), Will Phillips (pick 3, 2020), he will form the nucleus of the Roos' midfield brigade for many years to come.

2. The statistics

While most players earn their stripes before the draft playing NAB League or underage football, Horne-Francis has been cutting his teeth in the SANFL, playing senior football against men since the age of 16.

After nine games in 2020, he played 20 senior games for South Adelaide in 2021, averaging 16.5 disposals, 3.2 clearances and 4.2 tackles per contest, and has kicked 20 goals across his SANFL career.

3. THAT preliminary final

If there was any doubt about Horne-Francis’ ability to break a game of football open through his ability alone, it was put to bed in South Adelaide’s SANFL preliminary final against Glenelg.

While Glenelg would go on to win the game, it was Horne-Francis who stole the show with 24 disposals and 3 goals, with his performances almost single handedly dragging his side to the biggest game of the year.

4. The South Australian connection

Horne-Francis becomes the fourth South Australian on North’s list, following 2020 draftees Tom Powell and Phoenix Spicer, as well as recent trade acquisition Callum Coleman-Jones to Arden Street.

While Coleman-Jones and Powell both came through Sturt’s footballing program, Horne-Francis will come to the club already knowing a familiar face, with Spicer also being recruited from South Adelaide.

5. The milkman delivers

Every draftee has a different story leading into the draft. Who they play for, where they’re educated, where they work. Most players who are selected at the first time of asking tend to have come through school, finishing their year 12 studies prior to their inauguration into the AFL.

Horne-Francis, on the other hand, has been gaining more ‘real-world’ experience, spending his time stacking milk crates at the Fleurieu Milk Company.

Working alongside former Adelaide hero Tony Modra, Horne-Francis credits the job with keeping him grounded and mindful of the media hype around him.