Josh Francou

Josh Francou
Personal information
Date of birth	7 August 1974
Original team(s)	North Adelaide
Debut	Round 1, 29 March 1997, Port Adelaide v. Collingwood, at MCG
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1997–2005	Port Adelaide	156 (72)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2005 season.
Career highlights
2nd Brownlow Medal 2002 3rd (equal) Brownlow Medal 2001 Magarey Medal 1996 Three time winner of the Showdown Medal All-Australian 2002 International Rules Series 2001, 2002 Pre-season premiership sides 2001, 2002

Joshua "Josh" Francou (born 7 August 1974) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is currently serving as the assistant midfield coach of the Sydney Swans.^[1]

Port Adelaide (1997–2006)

Debuting with Port Adelaide as a 22-year-old, Francou was part of Port Adelaide's inaugural team. He was one of the club's 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 (2003–2006)

In his early career in the SANFL, Francou dislocated his left knee so badly, that it bent 90 degrees, which forced 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 2006, Francou announced his retirement after playing only 23 games since his knee reconstruction in 2003, and no games in his final year (2006).^[2]

Since retirement (2006–)

Josh has joined radio station 5AA, replacing Russell Ebert as special comments commentator. He also writes for the Adelaide Advertiser.

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 taught at Prince Alfred College and now teaches at St Peter's College, Adelaide.

Josh now coaches his original senior club, North Adelaide Football Club, in the SANFL.

AFL statistics

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

References

1. "Sydney Swans Coaching Staff". sydneyswans.com.au. Sydney Swans. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
2. Capel, Andrew (23 August 2006). "Knee just not up to it". The Advertiser. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

External links

• Josh Francou's profile on the official website of the Port Adelaide Football Club
• Josh Francou's statistics from AFL Tables