A Hobart-based North Melbourne cheer squad member has warned Jason Horne-Francis to expect a hostile reception on Saturday, although rules prevent her from booing him.
Horne-Francis, who successfully requested a trade to Port Adelaide not even a year after the Kangaroos drafted him at No.1, will face his old club for the first time at Blundstone Arena, with the AFL sparing him from the occasion being in Melbourne.
Jason Horne-Francis will face his old club for the first time on Saturday.Credit: AFL Photos
Kayla Keep will be among a small band of Tasmanian cheer squad members seated behind the goals for the match.
She told The Age she would abide by cheer squad rules, set by long-time president Annette Scott, that do not allow booing or “bagging” of players and umpires, or swearing
The Hobart venue previously allowed opposition supporters to buy tickets in that section of the ground, but it will be for only North Melbourne members for the first game there this season.
“I don’t watch [Horne-Francis any more], and he will be booed,” Keep said.
“Being in the cheer squad, we’re not allowed to boo opposition players, but there will be people around us who will. I know that from what I’ve seen on [North Melbourne fan pages on] Facebook.
“They’re going to give it to him – I can assure you of that – but I’ll try not to. I think he did the wrong thing by the club, but, at the end of the day, it’s done and dusted, and we’re probably better off without him.”
Keep also expected Kangaroos enforcer Cam Zurhaar to make life difficult for Horne-Francis as well.
Scott, who lives in Melbourne and will not be in Hobart, confirmed the 250-strong cheer squad’s booing ban.
She disliked hearing a section of Collingwood fans booing Sydney Swans champion Lance Franklin on Sunday, and said it was “embarrassing” the club had to apologise on their behalf.
The long-time president, who has been in the cheer squad for more than two decades, said they would not boo Franklin on Saturday week at Marvel Stadium, when North Melbourne host the Swans.
“I don’t like the booing – I think it’s terrible,” Scott said.
“Buddy’s a big guy, so he’s not going to worry about it, but the booing is getting a bit out of control.”
As for Horne-Francis, Scott said she had moved on and harboured no ill feelings towards the 19-year-old midfielder.
“Yes, he was a bit young, and, yes, he wanted to go home. I think there should be rules and regulations that as the No.1 pick you should be prepared to go wherever,” Scott said.
“It wasn’t worth us pressing it, though, because I don’t think there was anything [at the club] to keep him, and he did the wrong things … you have to be a team person.
“But I reckon [fans should] get over it, and move on.”
