Aaron Francis

Aaron Russell Francis[1] (born 10 August 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL), after initially being drafted by the Essendon Football Club with their second selection and sixth overall in the 2015 national draft.[2] In October 2022, he was traded to the Sydney Swans.[3]

Aaron Francis
Francis in August 2018
Personal information
Full name Aaron Russell Francis
Date of birth (1997-08-10) 10 August 1997
Original team(s) West Adelaide (SANFL)
Draft No. 6, 2015 national draft
Height 193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position(s) Key Defender
Club information
Current club Sydney
Number 10
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2016–2022 Essendon 54 (12)
2023– Sydney 15 (1)
Total 69 (13)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 24, 2023.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Francis was considered to be the best utility in his draft group, showing talent for South Australia, dominating games from both ends of the ground. He was named at centre half-forward in the All-Australian team during the 2015 AFL Under 18 Championships, often compared to AFL players Luke Hodge and Brendon Goddard in his junior year.[4]

Playing career

Francis made his debut in the thirty-seven point loss against the Brisbane Lions in round 18, 2016 at Etihad Stadium.[5] Francis is the third of four boys, his older brother Hayden, who was a Brisbane supporter, died from cancer in 2014. After the match he said "It was a big day for the family, the way everything came together and they were very proud of me.’’[6]

Due to personal struggles, coupled with failing to find opportunity in Essendon's best 22,[7] during the 2017 AFL Trade Period, the difficult start to his AFL career culminated in Aaron requesting a trade away from the club he supported as a child, Essendon, to move back to South Australia. However, as little interest was shown by both the recent Grand Final Runners Up, Adelaide Football Club, or the Port Adelaide Football Club, Essendon chose not to release Aaron from his contract, which was due to expire at the conclusion of the 2019 AFL season because they still saw the untapped potential which swayed them to draft Aaron with pick 6 in the 2015 national draft and fully backed him to improve.[8]

Before the commencement of the 2018 AFL season, Aaron, notified his teammates and Essendon of his decision to take some time away from Football due to his struggle with mental health - not doubt relating to his decision to request a trade a few months earlier.[9] Surprisingly, Aaron spent this time mainly in Melbourne - including a stint coaching a local junior Basketball team - all while the club and his teammates stayed in contact. Fortunately for Essendon, Aaron returned to the club shortly after to resume training, but the club chose to take a cautious approach, giving him all the time to get back to full fitness before pushing for senior selection again.[10]

After some strong performances in the VFL and toward the end of the AFL season, Aaron was selected to return to the senior team against Sydney in Round 19, with 5 games until the end of the 2018 Home and Away season and as Essendon's finals hopes faded.[11] Aaron took this opportunity with both hands and delivered some moments of brilliance in the last 5 games of the season;[12] including an eight mark effort against reigning premiers, Richmond Football Club, being named in Essendon's best, as well as soaring for a Mark of the Year contender against Port Adelaide in Round 23 over former Essendon player, Paddy Ryder.[13] which to the AFL communities surprise, did not even receive a nomination in the lead up to the 2018 Brownlow Medal night, when Swan Isaac Heeney took out the award.

At the conclusion of the 2022 AFL season, Francis was traded to Sydney for a fresh opportunity after struggling to cement himself in Essendon's best 22.[14]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season[15]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2016Essendon103122011311250.30.76.73.710.34.01.7
2017 Essendon10213101222730.51.55.06.011.03.51.5
2018 Essendon1051051156632110.2010.2313.26.42.2
2019 Essendon1017331299622580300.20.27.65.713.24.71.8
2020 Essendon1080044357927140.00.05.54.49.93.41.8
Career 35 6 8 254 169 423 158 63 0.2 0.3 7.3 4.8 12.1 4.5 1.8

References
  1. "PAC Chronicle 2015" (PDF). Prince Alfred College. 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. Porter, Ashley (24 November 2015). "'Mad Bomber fan' living the dream after being picked by Essendon". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  3. "On the move: Out-of-favour Bomber finds new home in Sydney". AFL. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  4. Twomey, Callum (25 October 2015). "30 days to the draft: Meet marking machine Aaron Francis". Australian Football League.
  5. Cherny, Daniel (21 July 2016). "Essendon v Brisbane: teen Bomber Aaron Francis to make AFL debut against Lions". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  6. Capel, Andrew (30 July 2016). "Tears flow as Bomber Aaron Francis fulfils lifelong dream to play AFL football for Essendon". The Advertiser.
  7. "Aaron francis fitness 2017 - Google Search".
  8. "Subscribe to the Australian | Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps".
  9. "Essendon's Aaron Francis takes time out from AFL". 13 February 2018.
  10. "Aaron Francis rejoins Essendon after personal leave". 16 March 2018.
  11. afl.com.au
  12. "Essendon's Andrew McGrath says Aaron Francis has 'turned his whole career around' with his work to get back to AFL football". 28 July 2018.
  13. afl.com.au
  14. @AFL_House (12 October 2022). "Trade paperwork lodged" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. "Aaron Francis". AFL Tables. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
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