The number one draft pick from the 2021 draft, Jason Horne-Francis has requested a trade back home to Port Adelaide after just one year at the North Melbourne Kangaroos.

AFL.com.au’s Callum Towmey reported the story last night, before North Melbourne list manager Brady Rawlings confirmed the report, saying the club had been notified of Horne-Francis’ intentions.

“Jason is contracted for next year, we’ve invested significantly in him as our first-ever No.1 pick just 12 months ago and we view him as a key part of the club’s plans going forward,” Rawlings said.

“We appreciate Jason’s circumstances but at the same time we’re determined to look after the best interests of North Melbourne.”

The request comes after a difficult debut season for Horne-Francis, who has been unsettled both on-and-off the field in 2022.

Horne-Francis is reportedly set on joining Port Adelaide, the club he trained with in his draft year, and the club where his step-father Fabian Francis was an inaugural player in 1997.

The Age is reporting that North Melbourne would only entertain the train request if an “exceptional” deal was offered and would otherwise hold Horne-Francis to his contract, which expires next year.

Port Adelaide currently holds pick No.8 in the upcoming draft, but it’s doubtful this alone would satisfy North Melbourne, with future draft selections likely to be involved in the deal.

Horne-Francis is looking to become the first number one draft pick to change clubs after a single season since Tom Boyd left GWS in favour of the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2014.

Horne-Francis averaged 16.53 disposals and kicked four goals in his 17 games at North Melbourne in 2022.

Photo: North Melbourne cheer squad by Flickerd available HERE is used under Creative Commons licence. This image has not been modified.