THE wonderful career of Josh Francou was honoured last night when he was inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame.
Francou played 58 games for North Adelaide between 1993 and 1996 (and in 2005), winning the Magarey Medal and the Fos Williams Medal in 1996, as well as representing South Australia in the same year.
The following year Francou was part of the inaugural squad when Port Adelaide entered the AFL, and developed an incredible relationship with Matthew Primus, with the pair becoming a dominant ruck and rover partnership, winning pre-season premierships in 2001 and 2002. Francou was the runner-up in the Brownlow Medal and an All-Australian in 2002, representing Australia in the International Rules series in both 2001 and 2002.
Francou, like his skipper Matt Primus, suffered from serious knee injuries, severely curtailing his career post- 2003, robbing him of the opportunity to play in a premiership side in 2004. He returned in the pre-season of 2005, playing a further 23 games that year, bringing his total games tally to 156 games and 81 goals for the Power.
Since retiring in 2006, Francou has become an outspoken football radio commentator and newspaper columnist.
Francou was inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame along with Terry Von Bertouch, Ernest W.C. Wadham, Horrie A.Riley, D. Bruce Winter, John (Snowy) Hamilton, Mostyn Rutter, and W.(Bill) Sanders .
Josh Francou Honour Board:
PLAYING RECORD:
- 58 games and 35 goals for North Adelaide 1993 - 1996, 2005
- 156 games and 81 goals for Port Adelaide (AFL) 1997 - 2006 (20 pre-season games not included)
PREMIERSHIPS:
- Member of the Pre-season premiership teams for Port Adelaide (AFL) 2001, 2002
MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
- 3 games for South Australia 1998, 1999 (State of Origin), 1996
INTERNATIONAL MATCHES FOR AUSTRALIA:
- 3 games for Australia 2001, 2002
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Magarey Medal winner 1996
- Fos Williams Medal 1996
- Runner Up in the Brownlow Medal 2002
- All Australian 2002
