'Droppable behaviour': Horne-Francis called out over 'unforgivable' action

Tom Naghten

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'Droppable behaviour': Horne-Francis called out over 'unforgivable' action image

The behaviour of Port Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis has again been highlighted following his side's win over North Melbourne on Saturday night.

Playing against the club he left in acrimonious circumstances after just one season, emotions are still clearly running high between Horne-Francis and some of his old teammates, as they clashed on several occasions at Adelaide Oval.

Horne-Francis and Port Adelaide had the last laugh, running out 97-88 winners after holding off a game Kangaroos outfit, with the former number one pick finishing with 27 touches and one goal in a starring performance.

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Several North players went after Horne-Francis and got under his skin at times, with Zak Butters forced to drag his teammate away, while coach Ken Hinkley had some stern words for him as well.

'Nearly droppable behaviour': Horne-Francis questioned

"Jason's a star and he's playing wonderful football but he just lost all of his emotions in this game," Matthew Lloyd said on the Sunday Footy Show.

"He got sucked in, to a point where he didn't want to listen to his coach and he was dragged back by his players.

"This is to a point where Jason has to grow up. His coach is talking to him, trying to calm him down and he walks off on the coach. That is still petulant behaviour and you do not want too many players in your team like that.

"It's nearly droppable behaviour if your coach is talking to your and you are walking away, not wanting to hear him out."

Lloyd continued, urging the 21-year-old to find the right balance of aggression in his game.

"It's all fun and games until you lose a tight one because he does something stupid," he said.

"Play on the edge, there's wonderful players that play on the edge... when your coach speaks to you, don't turn your back. That's nearly unforgivable.

"I'd grab him tomorrow... and say, 'Do not disrespect me or your senior players like that again.'"

Port Adelaide currently sit 10th with a 4-3 record ahead of a clash with the Bulldogs in Ballarat next Saturday.

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.