No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis plans to hit the ground running when he joins his new North Melbourne Kangaroos teammates at Arden St on Monday.

“It’s slowly sinking in at the moment,” Horne-Francis told SEN on Thursday, after the Roos made him the club’s first ever No.1 pick at Wednesday night’s NAB AFL Draft.

“I’ve been a bit busy on the phone last night and this morning. It’s been a bit crazy."

Among Horne-Francis' phone calls was a special one from Kangaroos skipper Jack Ziebell, who rang to welcome the 18-year-old to the club.

“I’m really excited to get over there, meet the boys and make sure we get through a good pre-season," Horne-Francis said.

“They’ve got some really exciting young talent and a good mix of veterans as well. I’m really excited to get to work with them. Nobes (David Noble) is a bloody awesome coach, so they’re heading in the right direction."

A powerful midfielder-forward, Horne-Francis will join an emerging Kangaroos midfield that contains fellow first-round picks Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Tarryn Thomas, Will Phillips and Tom Powell.

“I’m really looking forward to coming alongside Jy Simpkin,” Horne-Francis said. “I feel like I can learn a lot of things from him. Even though he’s a young player he’s been in the system a while and I think he can teach me a thing or so.

“I’m also really excited to get over there with the boys I already know a bit like [fellow South Australians] Powelly and Phoenix (Spicer).

Horne-Francis will fly to Victoria across the weekend and said he couldn’t wait to finally get to the club on Monday and get stuck into pre-season training.

“One of the goals will be to be in the round one squad but if that doesn’t happen I’ll keep working,” he said.

“Hopefully we can get some success in the next couple of years. It might not come in the first year but keep watching and I think we’ll do all right.”