“Let’s not say what did or didn’t happen at North Melbourne,but the reality was,as an 18-year-old boy,who got drafted for the first time,he perhaps didn’t handle the things he would have liked to handle,as well as he would.
“If he was the first or second under-18- or 19-year-old boy who perhaps didn’t handle absolutely perfect,everything he would’ve liked,I’m sure even he would potentially say that.”
Hinkley said the recruit’s attitude was “first class” at Port,having recovered well from vascular surgery to both legs in October. Hinkley expected Horne-Francis would be Port’s most scrutinised player this year. “Yeah,I think he will be.
“I’m sure he knows and I’m sure we all know,the outside scrutiny is real. It will go away when he’s performing at a level I think he can perform at.
“He’s pick one. They normally play pretty well.
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“It wouldn’t have held him up too much. It wouldn’t have been perfect for him. The likelihood is he’ll be better this year because of it.
“Yeah,he’ll play early. He’s got to play well enough to play in the team.[But] you don’t become pick one if you’re not.”
Hinkley said Horne-Francis ought not be compared,as he has been with Patrick Dangerfield,Christian Petracca and Dustin Martin,because of his explosive traits and power as a mid-forward.
“I think the reality is ... Jason will be Jason. Let’s not try to compare him to anyone and just see. Let’s watch him play and see what he shows us. Even at North,you know I think at round six or seven he was in the top five in their best and fairest at that stage in his first year.
“He’s a 19-year-old boy. He’s quite a freakish talent,but he’s only young.”
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Hinkley said Horne-Francis would be better for his major surgery. “If you look at the back of his knees,he’s got two massive scars on the backs of his legs,which you would look at them and think ‘well,he’s going to play footy?’
“He’s had a really good preparation since Christmas.”
Horne-Francis would not replace retired champion Robbie Gray. No one would. “Rob was a genuine classy player;he was tough and hard,but he just made stuff up in real tight confines. Jason’s going to be more explosive outside and run away from teams,he’s got real power.
“He’s[Gray] my GOAT[greatest of all time],at Port,in my time at Port. I was lucky enough to have Travis[Boak],very,very close ...
“You don’t replace the talent of Robbie Gray,though. That’s like asking Geelong to replace Joel Selwood.”
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