Josh Francou

Infobox afl player


firstname = Josh
lastname = Francou


| birthdate = Birth date and age|1974|8|7|df=y
birthplace =
originalteam = North Adelaide
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 1, 29 March 1997
debutteam = Port Adelaide
debutopponent = Collingwood
debutstadium = MCG
playingteams = Port Adelaide (1997–2006) 156 games, 72 goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 2006
careerhighlights =

* 2nd Brownlow Medal 2002
* 3rd (equal) Brownlow Medal 2001
* Magarey Medal 1996
* All-Australian 2002
* International Rules Series 2001, 2002
* Pre-season premiership sides 2001, 2002

Joshua "Josh" Francou (born 7 August 1974) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

Port Adelaide Career

Debuting with Port Adelaide as a 22-year-old, Francou was part of Port Adelaide's Inaugural team. He was one of the clubs best players, playing every game, averaging a respectable 15 disposals per game as well as kicking 16 goals for the year. He played every game the next season also, averaging 16 disposals. In the 1999 season, Francou missed out on just three games. Port Adelaide played in their first final in that year, losing to the Kangaroos by 44 points.

The 2000 season was a good one for Francou, averaging 22 creative disposals a match. He continued to average over 20 disposals the next season, kicking 7 goals in both years. In 2002, he once again averaged over 20 disposals, and for the first time since 1998, played in all games.

Injuries and retirement

In his early career in the SANFL, Francou dislocated his left knee so badly it bent 90 degress forcing him out of the game for over a year. In recent times, he has been ravaged with knee-reconstructions, one in just his second game of the year in 2003, and then another injury to his other good knee in Pre-Season 2004. He was able to play every game except one in 2005 (despite battling osteitis pubis). He injured both his left and right knee.

On 23 August 23 2006, Francou announced his retirement after playing only 23 games since his knee reconstruction in 2003, and no games in his final year (2006). [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,20231925-21543,00.html]

ince retirement

Josh has joined radio station 5AA, replacing Port legend Russel Ebert as special comments commentator. He also writes for the Adelaide Advertiser where his forth-right views have often been the topic of much football discussion.

Josh Francou has also worked as a part-time Physical Education teacher at Banksia Park International High School and Pulteney Grammar School in South Australia. He is currently teaching at the exclusive Prince Alfred College.

AFL Statistics

*Games - 156
*Disposals - 3020
*Av Disp per game - 19
*Goals - 72
*Behinds - 81
*Accuracy - 47%

External links

*Portplayer|ref=13416
*AflRleague|ref=J/Josh_Francou.html