His workrate is immense. 

With more experience and bigger frame, he'll really start to clunk those pack marks. Not afraid to go in and crash a park which i love.

Jackson, Kozzie and River. Yep, we absolutely nailed this draft.

Well done to Jason Taylor.

I forget what quarter it was, but the moment where Jackson recognised we were likely to win a centre clearance, burst forward to take the forward handball, then run away and get it inside 50 was a thing of beauty.

Legit plays like a mid.

Edited July 20, 20204 yr by JTR

Wow. He showed big signs. Good to see he went into the ruck to relieve Max once we had the game out to 5-6 goal lead. 
 

Sure he fumbled a few but he will get more confident. I think overall his agility and second efforts were excellent.  Great to see the excitement when he got his first goal. 

Much better game yesterday, he showed glimpses of his best attributes. His smarts were on display, ran to the right spots whether he got the ball or not, held his own in the ruck. If he can contribute at that level while he continues to develop then we'll all be very happy.

With time he could become a special player, it will take time though. Talls take longer and he'll be no exception to that as he builds his body up. Imagine how good he could be with some extra strength so he isn't pushed out of contests. Strength, leap, agility, smarts, he could become a serious weapon in a few years.

4 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Wow. He showed big signs. Good to see he went into the ruck to relieve Max once we had the game out to 5-6 goal lead. 
 

Sure he fumbled a few but he will get more confident. I think overall his agility and second efforts were excellent.  Great to see the excitement when he got his first goal. 

i feel like the guys could've got around him waaaaay more than they did after that goal.. bit disappointing, but seems to be a thing that MFC isn't really great at (apart from the harley love-in last weekend). 

5 hours ago, JTR said:

I forget what quarter it was, but the moment where Jackson recognised we were likely to win a centre clearance, burst forward to take the forward handball, then run away and get it inside 50 was a thing of beauty.

Legit plays like a mid.

3:05 mark, in lead up to Bennell goal

General play, not centre clearance, but still....  ?

Edited July 20, 20204 yr by JTR

Moves like a Gazelle, and love his second and third efforts 

I reckon he's the archetypal FF for the next age of footy. Super-mobile, super-agile. Can pinch-hit all over the ground. Give him time and we're good to go...

While showing tap-ruck glimpses, Gawn was nothing until he gained the confidence to start marking the ball (Cats' breakout game 2016) - even earlier in this season (and most early season matches for some reason we should probably try to rectify). If Jackson gains that confidence then we will have a serious player on our books. Definitely gets to the right spots and willing to compete. Seems to have soft hands at present, which I think is probably better than the Dawes' bricks. Meanwhile, I worked out Weid's problem: he closes his eyes on contact. Watch the footage again. Smash him with the tackle-bags at training. He can still be something as well. 

He’s certainly athletic...

Thats glib. As a forward, forward coach and former head coach I cannot help myself when I look at how forwards move without the footy - and Luke has a long way to go. His instincts are not great in close when chasing and he is very reactive. It’s hard to tell leading patterns on TV so I don’t get hung up on that just yet and his jump and speed will get him to where he wants to go without much movement prior to his leads.

I have been burnt before so I am taking it slow...

If he’d managed to hold on to the bullet from May, and convert, I’d be happy. 
He’s improved a lot since his first run which is great. Will be a weapon in a year or three when he fills out.

Edited July 20, 20204 yr by PaulRB

10 hours ago, rpfc said:

He’s certainly athletic...

Thats glib. As a forward, forward coach and former head coach I cannot help myself when I look at how forwards move without the footy - and Luke has a long way to go. His instincts are not great in close when chasing and he is very reactive. It’s hard to tell leading patterns on TV so I don’t get hung up on that just yet and his jump and speed will get him to where he wants to go without much movement prior to his leads.

I have been burnt before so I am taking it slow...

I tend to agree. I don't think he's showed any forward craft yet. Around the ball though he's showed he can get involved and read the play better. He follows up better when the balls not in the air, ironic considering his defining attribute is his leap. Due to his athleticism, I think he'll be a good modern ruckman who essentially plays as an additional midfielder once the ruck contest is over. I struggle to see him becoming a good key forward though at this stage. Would be happy to be wrong!

1 hour ago, Lord Travis said:

I tend to agree. I don't think he's showed any forward craft yet. Around the ball though he's showed he can get involved and read the play better. He follows up better when the balls not in the air, ironic considering his defining attribute is his leap. Due to his athleticism, I think he'll be a good modern ruckman who essentially plays as an additional midfielder once the ruck contest is over. I struggle to see him becoming a good key forward though at this stage. Would be happy to be wrong!

Probably fair enough - don't want to raise expectations on the kid but I was impressed with a number of the marks he took.  How many key forwards show "forward craft" in their first handful of games?

19 hours ago, Rocky said:

i feel like the guys could've got around him waaaaay more than they did after that goal.. bit disappointing, but seems to be a thing that MFC isn't really great at (apart from the harley love-in last weekend). 

I think it's something we do pretty well. I remember noticing the same thing during the game, but it was because of channel 7's coverage rather than melbourne players not getting around him.

If you check the video in the link below you can see many more melbourne players come up to him and I suspect even more came up to him after.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/467973/key-dee-available-but-no-guarantees-t-mac-get-straight-back

5 minutes ago, Frank Grimes said:

I think it's something we do pretty well. I remember noticing the same thing during the game, but it was because of channel 7's coverage rather than melbourne players not getting around him.

If you check the video in the link below you can see many more melbourne players come up to him and I suspect even more came up to him after.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/467973/key-dee-available-but-no-guarantees-t-mac-get-straight-back

Yes - I thought this at the time, but when you watch the highlights, you see them all get round him.

Jackson is an exciting young player. Reminds me of Bontempelli. 

Athletic but with footy skills and instincts. Injury aside he looks the goods. 

Sure he needs development but he has got all the raw ingredients. Athleticism, height, and footy instincts. Also shows enthusiasm and love of the game. 

Nurture this kid but I expect that he will come along quickly. Let’s hope we have the money to keep him and an emotional home at the club and this virus laden city called Melbourne. Line-up a Melbourne born girl friend. But not Ghislaine style. 

I’m very bullish on Jackson after his last two games.

Started like a house on fire and faded against Brisbane, but there were a couple of marking contests that gave me flashbacks to Schwarz.

He didn’t mark either, but he hit the ball at speed in a small pack, fumbled the ball of course, but he never took his eye off the ball and he was tracking the ball and almost completed the mark on the way down, and then when he hit the ground he was roving his own crumb almost instantly.

It was the fluid movement and agility Schwarz had pre knees.

In time he will marks more of those than he is doing now, and give most tall defenders or ruckman a really difficult time as very few will be able to cover him both in the air and on the ground.

I don’t think he has anywhere near the foot skills of Schwarz who was pretty exceptional for his size, but his vision and hand passing coupled with the mobility make it clear why he was a compelling prospect even with Gawn hopefully on the scene for another 5 years or so.

Edited July 26, 20204 yr by Lampers
Typo and minor edits

He's showing good signs for a KPF. I feel like with each game time, he will just get better.

I've always been in the camp that we could always fit in Weideman, McDonald and Jackson in the one side.

Bringing in McDonald means Jackson takes the 3rd tall defender and doesn't shoulder burden of taking a big body.

For a guy that's near 200cm, he sure is agile!

Agreed with above. A fast learner and actually doesn’t look small against other rucks, will be a very very good player in 2022 onwards

On 10/22/2019 at 6:56 PM, Rusty Nails said:

Surely this is a joke?

Only the clinically insane would waste a top 10 pick on another 'untried' Jack the giant when we already have two running around and one is A grade.

Pert needs to step in immediately and have a word to Goody & the FD if this is genuinely on the cards.

Will go down as yet another mega MFC blunder if we overlook Young, Stephens, Kemp and/or Pickett in favour of a third lumbering giant.

 

On 11/3/2019 at 12:55 PM, Demon Disciple said:

so we could pick a bloke with one of the best kicking actions.........................or a bloke with one of the worst, hmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

On 11/3/2019 at 10:11 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

Horrible waste of pick 3 or pick 8 if we draft Jackson.  We don’t need a young ruckman. Gawn and Preuss are sufficient right now.  Need to draft the best players possible with pick 3 & 8 on the best talented footballers. Lots available. Young. Kemp. Flanders. Stephens. Ash. Serong.  

Jackson is raw. Very raw.  Skills are basic if any. An athlete. Will take at least 3 years and then vulnerable to the go home factor.  

 

On 11/12/2019 at 11:13 AM, poita said:

Taking a ruckman with a top ten pick would be almost as stupid as taking a midget with a top ten pick. Have a look at where the likes of Nankervis and Lycett, the most recent premiership ruckmen, were taken in the draft, to say nothing of all the decent ruckmen changing clubs for third and fourth round picks in trade week.

The chances of finding a top class ruckman in the draft are miniscule - we have simply have to find two 200 game players with our top ten picks.

 

On 11/15/2019 at 3:06 PM, Lord Travis said:

Unless he fixes his poor kicking and turns it on over summer as a tall forward, which he has no proven history of, then he’s not getting near our round 1 team. It’ll be years before Gawn hands the ruck baton over, and even then he’d be the shortest ruckman in the league.

If we pick him at 3 I’ll put my house on it being a poor drafting choice.

 

On 11/19/2019 at 4:20 PM, TheoX said:

Feels like Lucas Cook all over again. Massive reach. 

 

On 11/19/2019 at 4:29 PM, JakovichScissorKick said:

 

Would be like drafting  Jack Fitzpatrick at pick 3.

Taylor cant be that stupid.

 

On 11/19/2019 at 6:34 PM, picket fence said:

Oh yes he can 

AVOID can't Kick

IMO a worse pick than Lucas Cook!

 

On 11/20/2019 at 10:25 PM, JakovichScissorKick said:

Worse than risky, its completely insane.

The kid doesnt have any of the weapons to be a great forward either.

 

On 11/21/2019 at 10:57 AM, picket fence said:

Agree IMO If we draft this kid at 3 It might go down as the greatest draft blunder of the Century. For a start this bloke can't kick!! Yeah thats what we need another poorly skilled player!

DONT DO IT MFC!

 

On 11/21/2019 at 6:40 PM, Ugottobekidding said:

Has all the hallmarks of Jack Watts mark2. Trade disaster.

 

On 11/27/2019 at 7:25 PM, olisik said:

Am I the only one who thought he didn’t look nearly as excited as Rowell and Anderson when waking on stage

Had a spare hour - some interesting reading ...

1 hour ago, Pollyanna said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had a spare hour - some interesting reading ...

Oh dear! Just as well the recruitment decisions are made by the professionals.

Although LJ is only 12 months into his career so they could be proven right yet  ?

5 hours ago, Better days ahead said:

Oh dear! Just as well the recruitment decisions are made by the professionals.

Although LJ is only 12 months into his career so they could be proven right yet  ?

Exactly. And taken as isolated grabs. I’ve have to go back to find the ones where I say he’s possibility is high but he’s a risk. Definitely a calculated gamble. I still think LJ is a raw athlete and not a natural footballer.  That hadn’t changed after his 2020. Let’s see after a few more years. I still think Eagles and Freo will be after him big time and go home factor is dangerous. 

I note that in many posts I called out Serong. Thanks @Pollyanna  for reminding me that I wanted him drafted.  I believe he won the rising star ⭐️ award. ✅. 

7 hours ago, Pollyanna said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had a spare hour - some interesting reading ...

It shows most have no idea about which players should be drafted.

Bit of a bump but I just wanted an appropriate place to note;

I really, really liked Luke Jackson's game against GWS yesterday. What I found most interesting and pleasing was that after starting the season with a whole lot of moments that were 'almost amazing' Jackson had a very different game in Canberra.  I kept seeing him just doing basic things, being involved, making a contribution in small ways.  Calmer play. Much less spectacular but much better football and if he can settle those basics into his game it will take a lot of mental pressure off him and hopefully in future allow him to be both reliable and spectacular.

I swear every champion player who has ever opened their mouth and made a sound has at some point said 'do the basics well'. If Luke Jackson is listening to that, then we've got ourselves a winner.

15 touches, 10 hitouts and 1 goal ... plus all the stuff you dont see on the stat sheet that he does.

Keep going big boy. Only a matter of time before you electrify the AFL world like Kozzie is doing right now.