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AAP
AAP
Sport
Shayne Hope

Horne-Francis in hot water over Kelly hit

North Melbourne's Jason Horne-Francis faces a nervous wait after a high hit on Josh Kelly. (AAP)

No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis faces AFL scrutiny over a swinging arm that struck Josh Kelly's jaw during North Melbourne's 49-point thumping from GWS.

Horne-Francis had just two disposals in the first half and had to be calmed down by experienced teammate Todd Goldstein in a half-time exchange.

The first-year midfielder took his frustration out on Kelly early in the third quarter of the one-sided affair, which the Giants won easily after kicking the first seven goals.

Horne-Francis made high contact with Kelly after the GWS star had kicked the ball forward, resulting in a down-field free kick.

The incident sparked a melee in an otherwise fairly tame affair at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

"I think there's some frustration from all of our guys, to be fair," Kangaroos coach David Noble said.

"(Horne-Francis) is a young guy learning the caper, he's got high standards and high expectations, so there's some frustration out there, no doubt.

"But I don't think it's just limited to him."

A suspension for the high hit would rule out Horne-Francis for at least the Adelaide clash in round 15, which follows the Kangaroos' mid-season bye.

"If it does, it does, but we'll have to wait and see," Noble said.

Kelly immediately grabbed at his jaw in a sign the contact from Horne-Francis had some impact and was checked by medical staff on the bench soon afterwards.

But he was cleared to continue and finished with 27 disposals as one of the Giants' best despite close attention from Kayne Turner.

Meanwhile, Fremantle midfielder Blake Acres copped a $2000 fine for rough conduct against Hawthorn's Changkuoth Jiath in Saturday's Optus Stadium clash.

Brisbane forward Charlie Cameron's was cleared over contact with St Kilda's Dan McKenzie at the Gabba on Saturday night.

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