Collingwood head coach Craig McRae has thrown his support behind a rejuvenated Jason Horne-Francis, claiming the Port Adelaide recruit looked "happy" as well as unrecognisable from the one at Arden Street last year.
The 19-year-old starred in his side's Round 1 win over Brisbane, collecting 25 disposals to add to his long-range goal in a best-afield effort, with McRae suggesting โhe looked like a different player."
Since the No.1 draftee's storied exit from North Melbourne, the homecoming move to the City of Churches has been just what the doctor ordered in terms of a new lease on life for the young star on the rise.
McRae joined Gerard Whateley and Mark Robinson on the AFL 360 desk on Monday to touch on the new Power recruit, stating โthere's a lot to be said about happiness isn't there and being close to family.โ
โHe looked happy, smiling and then you see him shine," McRae told Fox Footy viewers.
โI don't know what the last 12 months was like for him at a different club but you got home to family, back to your home state, familiar surroundings โ he would have played there (at Adelaide Oval) before in the SANFL. The grand final he played really well in the SANFL.
โI hadn't seen that player at North Melbourne. That's the player we all thought he could be as the number one draft pick.โ
McRae added that he had been instilled with the belief that happiness will always aid hard work.
โI know my dad's watching at the moment and he said that he always believed people who are happier will work harder,โ he said.
โ(Magpies' recruit) Bobby Hill is the perfect example of that โ he looks really happy, smiling all the time and it's just โgo play, be yourself'.โ
Power coach Ken Hinkley, also went in to bat for his talented young midfielder, drawing comparisons to his playing days and his experiences of feeling homesick.
โHe's got the greatest respect for North Melbourne. The reality is he wanted to be home,โ Hinkley explained.
โHe's not the first and won't be the last young man who's missed their family enough that they've made a courageous decision to return.
"He's now played the way he'd like to play for one game, he's 19, he'll have ups and downs."
โA long, long time ago I had a very similar situation as a young player trying to play football. I didn't quite enjoy Melbourne at the time and I lived in country Victoria and it was hard for me.
โHe's chosen his family โ you can't blame him.โ
With the MCG set to play host to both the undefeated sides in the Power and Pies this Saturday, a mouthwatering battle is shaping up with the equally gifted on-baller Nick Daicos and 'the Hornet' set to go head-to-head.
