INTERVIEW: Josh Francou - 13 April 2026

0:00the sample season. It's underway 2026. So we're going to be playing around three this weekend, the roosters. Well, they've had a win. They've had a loss and they play poor Adelaide at Albert on this Sunday at 2 10. We've got the coach of the roosters. He's back to the future. Josh Franco, get out of my. Hey guys, how are we? Well, look, we're okay. I was pretty excited when I saw your name light up as the coach of the roosters again, but we lit the fire for you. Oh, look, I must admit to me, I, um, having been involved in the AFL systems, I think it was eight years in total, um, sort of stepping out of that going through COVID. It was actually a bit of a release to get out of the coaching game at that level. Um, so I went a bit of teaching and I'm still doing a little bit of teaching as well, but being involved last year at North South Laid, all be it on a, what would you call it, um, part time on the coaching level, but more of a, a, a, a server and sort of there just to bounce my ideas off. Um, you sort of forget having been in the AFL system. How good the, the AFL program is. So being involved

1:05last year, I guess that, that metaphor sort of reignited the fire and then got the opportunity to coach and it's really good to be back. Um, terrific round one. Gee, what a game against the, the doggy's out there. Not often you can get a win at Elizabeth though. That was a, a real plaza and then followed up against sturdow. We know, uh, going well out of those two games. Can you see a balance of where you think you're at? Yeah. Look, it's fine. You know, well, when honestly the AFL season and, you know, both you guys having been involved in it, um, it's one of those things from, from year to year to there, potentially you're quite a big turnover fire. Before you start flying, you don't really know where you're sitting in terms of the passing order. Um, yeah, look, it's the first round when a game stands full. That was, that was really pleasing. We had a couple of our losses for them in 2025 and to go out there, there were always different short and silly challenges to get a, to win, to get a win at the ponderosa. So to get over the line in round one was really good. Um, then we had a big day of prospect on good Friday last week and face. Uh, now there, the absolute thing. I've got a

2:08competition, Marty, Matt and the coaches are very well. They've got a terrific list. They're really well balanced in every line. And I guess it was, uh, I wouldn't say a reality check, but it was one of those games where you put a bit of context around, I guess, where you do sit up against the best. And now we're a little bit off. We know that and we're getting to work inside in proven all areas to close that gap. I think patience might be the virtue for you, the team this year, because I, I went through your team. There's 12 players that played against dirt that are under 50 games and about 11 of them are under 10. So you're a young list, Josh. Yeah. And as I said, it's a bit of the nature of the Tanswell. There's, at the end of every year, there's quite a big turnover of players. I guess depending on the, the demographic of your, your list, um, I, I think they're coming in and coaching North Adelaide. The list needs freshening up. So, you know, giving some of these young guys an opportunity, um, sort of pick up their teeth at a state league level, at, you know, league footing in the, in the sample comp, which is a, a very good competition,

3:09but I guess the reality is, um, as I said, the, the game against dirt was probably the, I guess, the, again, I don't use that word, reality check, but it's one of those things when you, you stack up against the best and, and we, we're not quite there and we know that. Um, but yeah, we, I guess we do have a, a young list, but in the same breath, we're working really hard to improve all of our plays in every area of the game. Yeah. Cup of ends. There, there was a lot to win out. Um, James Baddersby, how's he settled in? James Baddersby, he's been a diamond for us to be honest with you. Um, not only does he, does he add a lot to us on field, off field, he's being super impressive. Um, I want to get a, you know, he comes from the dirt program and he comes looking through a different land. Uh, so, you know, he gets used from outside and someone who's been in a good program can give his views on, on where we were out and where we need to improve. So he's been a real pressure for our playing group. Um, he's had a lot as I said on field, but also

4:11off field. So yeah, he's been a real diamond for it. Yeah. Uh, another name that popped up, you got back from Port day, your cult, Ollie, I went through the stats, um, 30 plus possessions, eight clearances. Do you mind nine tackles? Do you mind 21 of them? My handballs, seven score involvement. Um, how tough is it coaching your cult? We, we got a couple of them at the wheels out there as well. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's funny. I was like, I do sort of make the joke that when people say, why did you coach North Adelaide? I, again, I thought it would give you a bit of leverage around getting the boys to do a bit more housework. Um, and if they didn't do it, they'd be playing in the amateur league, but that hasn't worked. Oh, no. Oh, look, in all seriousness, Ollie, Ollie, yeah, he's our, he's our middle boy. Um, he had a bit of a think of a year last year. He had hip surgery in the 2024. Um, and then that put him out for quite a, quite a while, about three months. I reckon recovery and then copied double dose of back stress fracture. So he didn't fire a shot at all. She didn't play any games. So to get him back, he, I guess he's put on

5:12a bit of size in the gym and, um, he, he started the season off really well, which is, which is mate. I've, I've just turned 60. I've got both those issues. What's he doing with them at eight? I mean, what, what's going on? God, poor bugger. Uh, yeah, look, and it was funny, our young one, Ben, he, he said to use the stress fractures as well. So I just think the kids that today are, they're just doing so much and when their, their bodies are growing at the quickest there, they're most vulnerable. Some get them some don't. I'm fortunate to have always got them, but they're back on track now and, and playing, playing great food. Yeah, wishing more the best. I might, uh, how you use them, Mick Harvey, mainly for Ford. Does he do a little bit in the right? Yeah, yeah, all of the above. We, um, we've got Alex, Dan Wick, so I know, big fun. I've come forward. Yeah. And last year, um, because he, he did that terrible ankle just before the state game last year. Has he recovered from that? Because he, I don't think he got back, did he? So he did. He got back late in the year, but he was, he was sort of severely underdown. So he's had a good purpose and, um, you know, he's come from Nord. He's, uh,

6:13kind of plus 10m. He's been really good value for us. So Mitch pinch hit in the rack a little bit. Yep. Um, just in terms of rotations, but he's probably forward for us at the moment. So, um, you know, he's still an important target ahead of the ball. Oh, God, yeah. And can kick. Um, I looked at your inside 50s. There was 40 the first week, 36 a second. Probably you'd want it closer to 50, wouldn't you? To, to get a decent score. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, look at that. That's the message to the playing group that, you know, if we're going to can see 50 plus in size 50s, which we did against it, but not give out forwards a good look at the ball. But a lot of that in on review is we just return the footy over a lot, um, particularly in that sort of the zone. So we don't get, and we're not getting enough good looked ahead of the ball. So, here to your point, you know, you're not going to spend too many games of 40 here. If you're not getting sort of 50 to 55 inside 50s, it's going to be challenging. And playing a lochlam and, uh, Frank exactly now is, is Frank you back up on a wing and, and is playing doing sort of half back running role? Well, we playing some of those that we've,

7:18we've actually exposed to the inside of it more this year. Yeah. Okay. He's trying with the midget. He's very, um, he's a good decision maker. He's the ball pretty well. Uh, he also gives us flexibility that we can use him forward, but also back. And he, he played a lot of his footy last year down back. And Frank, actually, yeah, look, he, um, he's quite a versatile player. Once again, we're trying to get a bit more speed around the ball. So he sent some, some time on ball, but predominantly forward. Um, but once again, he can go on the wing and, and had the opposition there as well, because he is a very good user of the footy. Yeah, just quickly on port, the other port, um, Josh, the one that played that last night, they had 60 inside 50s and lost. So it's not the number. It's the quality in it. And I think they had 15 marks inside 50 and still lost. Yeah, sure. Um, but yeah, they, they, they, you won't get in that far. Look, it's a great, great club. And it's a even better one with you in at night. Uh, well done. All the best for the whole year. Thanks for all. I appreciate your time.

8:19Joe, Frank, uh, our guest head senior coach of the North Adelaide Football Club and, uh, great to have his name. Oh, isn't it? Back at bloody prospect. Your beauty. Josh, Frank, I will. Okay.