Horne-Francis plays down injury scares after 'pop' ends first day back at Port pre-season

Jarred Cross Published November 10, 2025 at 6.20pm (AWST)

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Horne-Francis has been cleared of a break having gone for scans after leaving the track early at day one of the Powers' pre-season training, (Image: Matt Turner/AAP)

Port Adelaide mid Jason Horne-Francis' has been dealt an immediate injury scare on day one of pre-season training, with the 22-year-old leaving the track early at Alberton on Monday.

Horne-Francis was captured moving with a slight limp, and appearing to point towards his foot, as he exited drills during the Powers' first day back under new coach Josh Carr.

He missed the back end of the 2025 season after undergoing surgery on his foot.

According to The Advertiser, scans done on Monday cleared fears of a break with further assessment from specialists to come.

Horne-Francis told Nine News: "I just went to take off and felt a pop in my foot...we're still not sure what it is, but when we get the results back, we'll find out."

The young midfielder added there was no swelling and there were "all good signs" early on, but would wait for more clarity around the concern.

Averaging 20 touches and 4.6 clearances across 15 games in his fourth season of AFL football, Horne Francis missed finals for the first time as a Port player in 2025, which also ended in Ken Hinkley's departure as coach.

The Power finished in the top four in both Horne-Francis' two previous years at the club, having arrived from North Melbourne after the 2022 season.

Alongside Horne-Francis, established names, including captain Connor Rozee, joined younger players in the returning group to begin pre-season preparations.

Last week, milestone-setting Indigenous forward Gemma Houghton extended her time at the club after finishing the AFLW season with the bang the weekend earlier.

The 31-year-old two-time All Australian and inaugural player of the women's competition (with Fremantle) inked a two-year extension with the Power through to at least the end of the 2027.

Only a few days earlier, Houghton became the first AFLW to reach 100 career goals when she slotted her fourth after the final siren of their round 12 clash with GWS.

Houghton celebrated her historic milestone-moment to cap Port's 2025 AFLW season, edging out Melbourne's Kate Hore - who reached triple figures in the weekend's qualifying final loss to Brisbane. (Image: Port Adelaide AFLW Facebook)

"I've loved every moment as a Port Adelaide player and I'm really excited about the direction we're heading as a group," the history-maker said on her re-signing.

"We've come a long way since our inaugural season. While we didn't make finals this year, we matured in so many ways that will make us stronger going forward, and I'm really looking forward to being part of that for two more years.

"Pulling on this guernsey is a privilege I'll never take for granted. I've made so many cherished memories here, and I can't wait to make more.

"The talent coming through the pathways is incredible, and the young players on our list are really exciting. We're building something special, and to be part of that for the next couple of years means a lot to me."