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2021 Player Reviews: #6 Luke Jackson

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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I think when Nic Natanui was drafted he was 199cm and is 202cm now so Luke maybe growing and end up over 200cm when he turns 25 since some people continue to grow until that age.

He has not reached his optimum weight yet and when he gets to that playing weight he will be harder to push off the ball and at the centre bounce.

He is a great young ruckman and his agility has been exceptional being a ruckman and extra midfielder makes him a dominant ruckman template.

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    The response to us next season interests me. How will we be played against and whether or not the young players  will be singled out for extra attention like Dogga and Fritch.

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    On 10/15/2021 at 4:21 PM, frankie_d said:

    This! This!!

    Unbelievable decision-making under intense pressure. If Viney gets the handball - Daniel tackles him, maybe he gets a handball away to Clarrie.  Maybe.

    But Jackson made the rugby "cut out pass" and took that option away from the dogs. 

    I wonder if the clichéd "basketball" experience plays a role here. Not sure basketball develops that sort of decision-making... if you've got it then it's very very valuable in basketball.

    I'm not sure you can coach that sort of decision-making. He's a wonder. Could be a ruckman sized Pendlebury.

    Ir maybe in 10 years Pendlebury may be recognised as just an undersized Luke Jackson. 

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    Not gonna lie: my first impression of Luke was that he’s that toddler at daycare who’s twice as big as the other kids and who might unintentionally pat a puppy to death. 
    Bur his agility belies his stature. And he’s adorable, to boot. 

    Edited by WalkingCivilWar

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    1 hour ago, durango said:

    I think when Nic Natanui was drafted he was 199cm and is 202cm now so Luke maybe growing and end up over 200cm when he turns 25 since some people continue to grow until that age.

    He has not reached his optimum weight yet and when he gets to that playing weight he will be harder to push off the ball and at the centre bounce.

    He is a great young ruckman and his agility has been exceptional being a ruckman and extra midfielder makes him a dominant ruckman template.

    Spot on. He is like having an extra mid and it made a big difference in the 3 rd qrt the granny.

    Edited by leave it to deever

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    I’ve seen many talented players come through Melbourne, none have excited me more at such a young age than Jackson. The depth of his talent is incredible, his move into the ruck in the Grand Final helped change the the game and win it for us. How many 19yo players in the history of the AFL/VFL can say that?

    If he ends up being a one club player he could go down as one of our greatest of all time. 

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    Special. Does special things in the air and on the ground. Just special.

     Animation Rainbow GIF by Greg Gunn

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    On 10/17/2021 at 2:07 PM, leave it to deever said:

    Spot on. He is like having an extra mid and it made a big difference in the 3 rd qrt the granny.

    Yes his ground ball work is truly extraordinary for a kid of that size. 
    although not even he had played anywhere near that level, until he actually DID IT and executed perfectly during that 3rd Quarter of a GRAND FINAL

    That 3 minutes is almost 4th Dimensional  Footscray did not exist 

     

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    I'm in with a number of others here ... this bloke will be a star of the competition

    He's got all the attributes but those attributes are superior to most.  Can play anywhere, has an enormous leap and is skilfull

    Hunts the ball at ground level too which is absolutely unique for someone so tall.  From his first game he's had his eyes on the ball without a look around ... that's a real quality in an 18yo coming in against men

    He's only just turned 20 and once he learns how to play like an A-grader, look out!

    Edited by Macca

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    The best part about all his talent and potential is how grounded he comes across. No ego or arrogance, just a Perth kid who likes to have fun and play footy with his mates. You can see on-field how much he looks up to Maxy, hopefully they form a bond that makes Dogga the next in a long line of great rucks to represent the red and blue.

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    On 10/17/2021 at 1:16 PM, monoccular said:

    Ir maybe in 10 years Pendlebury may be recognised as just an undersized Luke Jackson. 

    Nah.
    He'll be a bigger and more dominant Bontempelli.
    Won't be long and he'll be tearing games apart and winning Norm Smiths.

    Edited by Fork 'em

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    Obviously don’t want to put too much pressure on the young fella. But for mine, the day he starts as a 95kg, 198cm, rover, who also takes some hit-outs, will be when he is at the peak of his powers. 

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    Has there been any updates on talks with his management about extending his contract? There was some talk then it’s gone quiet. I want this kid locked in long term. 

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    On 11/8/2021 at 11:31 PM, Fork 'em said:

     

    Nah.
    He'll be a bigger and more dominant Bontempelli.
    Won't be long and he'll be tearing games apart and winning Norm Smiths.

    I doubt if any 19 yo has ever had such an influence in turning a GF completely on its head in a matter of minutes.

    On 11/10/2021 at 9:31 AM, Earl Hood said:

    Has there been any updates on talks with his management about extending his contract? There was some talk then it’s gone quiet. I want this kid locked in long term. 

    There were rumours that his parents were looking at real estate in Melbourne, which is promising.

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    Genuine point of difference. Effectively an extra midfielder at the center bounce. An absolute beast of a player. Immortality beckons

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    40 minutes ago, monoccular said:

    I doubt if any 19 yo has ever had such an influence in turning a GF completely on its head in a matter of minutes.

    Wouldn't quite go that far ...... Yet.
    He played well but he didn't exactly turn it on it's head.
    He was very influential in the rd23 comeback against Geelong too tho'.
    Going into the ruck in that game got us rolling then as well.

     

    Edited by Fork 'em

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    10 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

    Wouldn't quite go that far ...... Yet.
    He played well but he didn't exactly turn it on it's head.
    He was very influential in the rd23 comeback against Geelong too tho'.
    Going into the ruck in that game got us rolling then as well.

     

    I didn't say he single handedly turned it around, I said "....had such an influence in turning a GF completely on its head in a matter of minutes.", and he did have an influence, a big one, in that turnaround.

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    18 minutes ago, monoccular said:

    I didn't say he single handedly turned it around, I said "....had such an influence in turning a GF completely on its head in a matter of minutes.", and he did have an influence, a big one, in that turnaround.

    I am going to run with a “monster influence”

    don’t kick 3 goals in 45 seconds without a ruckman who isn’t doing a few things right. 
     

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    I'm going with SURELY NOT ANOTHER ONE

    BANG

    BANG BANG BANG

    God, it makes me smile just thinking about it.

    We've just kicked two deep in red time. Seconds to go. SURELY NOT ANOTHER ONE!

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    1 hour ago, Mazer Rackham said:

    I'm going with SURELY NOT ANOTHER ONE

    BANG

    BANG BANG BANG

    God, it makes me smile just thinking about it.

    We've just kicked two deep in red time. Seconds to go. SURELY NOT ANOTHER ONE!

    I've got the Dennis Cometti commentary of the grand final on USB in the car.
    Listened again to the last 7mins of the 3rd last night dropping my daughter off at dancing.
    I still smile, shake my head and shout "Go Demons" after those 3 goals everytime.
    Just devastating football.

    Daughter's over it tho' 😂

     

    Edited by Fork 'em

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    2 hours ago, BDA said:

    Genuine point of difference. Effectively an extra midfielder at the center bounce. An absolute beast of a player. Immortality beckons

    Agree.
    Kid can do it all.
    In the air and on the ground.
    Can see him just dominating the game in a few years.
    Unstoppable.


     

    Edited by Fork 'em

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    Great natural talent that landed with us at a time when we were able to develop his talent properly and with out any pressure on him to be a superman. Look settled and, like all the players, is enjoying the footy and his team mates.

    Covers the ground very, very well and has that awareness that the best of players have.

    I am sure that they will build his tank a fair bit over the next few years and he will spend more and more time on the ground during games.

    After watching him over the last quarter of the season and the finals I need to keep reminding myself that he is so young and likely to get a lot better over the next few years.

    Very glad that he is playing for us and not against us.

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    The bloke has really bulked up. I notice hes now listed at 100 kegs. It hasnt affected his speed at least or leap. I had a feeling he would have a hood granny. All eyes seemed to be on Max and rightly so. How wonderful to have a "back up" ruckman that moves like Luke and gathers the ball as well as any mid. I get the feeling this bloke will have a stellar career.

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    I'm sure every club and sundry would love to add Luke to their ranks. I thought he would take a few years to really start impacting games but he's smashed not a few this year.

    May he have a long and successful career AT MFC.

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