2022 Player Reviews: #6 Luke Jackson

[Demonland 64,398]

 

In his brief but exciting career at Melbourne, the mobile young ruckman has won a premiership and a NAB Rising Star Award but recently announced that the lure of home was irresistible. 

 

Date of Birth: 29 September 2001

Height: 199cm

Weight: 100kg

 

Games MFC 2022: 22

Career Total: 52

 

Goals MFC 2022: 11

Career Total: 30

Brownlow Medal Votes: 2

[poita 3,573]

A major disappointment for most of 2022. A great athlete to be sure, but I'm not sure he's a great footballer. Certainly he struggles with some pretty basic fundamentals, amongst some brilliant bits of play.

I can see why Fremantle are keen, without wanting to sell the farm for him. I don't think he'll ever be a key forward, and he is undersized as a ruckman. Can he get fit enough and win enough of the ball to play the midfield role Freo want him for? 

I'm pretty happy to bank two first round picks and move on.

 

[layzie 28,490]

His year was poor, no way around it. A few really good games but clearly still viewed by most as what he can be rather than what he is. 

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,100]

Started the season like a house on fire and was the talk of the league in our win over GC at Carrara in round 2.

Then went onto to have a say-so year with only the two Brisbane H&A games being genuinely good performances.

At this stage I see him as a player that does some good things within games rather than actually playing good games overall if that makes sense. His 13th place finish in the B&F is a good reflection of his season.

I can’t fathom how a fit 2023 Grundy isn’t an upgrade to a 2022 average Jackson, and that will surely help our chances of winning a final or 2 next year.

Edited October 7, 2022 by Bring-Back-Powell

[Demonised 1,198]

The way the ball bounces out of his hands while attempting to mark is a major weakness.

[Demon Dynasty 15,202]

Was obviously never truly committed in either mind, body or spirit after he had checked out to heading back home (probably from very early on).

I saw moments in games where i just shook my head that he was still out there taking up a spot that someone else would have thrown everything in on at certain contests (pulling out of marking contests, not wanting to be crunched in tackles and instead handballing to a player well covered or about to be wacked himself...turnover at HB... goal on turnover, 12 point turnaround....game lost) and at least given a yelp.

Situation very poorly managed by Goodwin who should  have sat him down about the half way mark after about Rnd 12, eyeballed him and assuming he wasn't continuing, just blooded or played any alternative (M Brown, Weid and/or JVR) from Casey.

Goodwin's mantra of us being ruthless did not hold sway, even by his own actions or lack thereof here, and the team/club paid a massive price with Jackson contributing to a very ordinary second half and the club going out in straight sets after securing the double chance.  And to the Lions of all teams.  One of the worst clubs to make a finals series in recent memory.

Edited October 7, 2022 by Demon Dynasty

[DeeZone 7,661]

Luke Jackson Premiership Hero in 2021 I remember watching him after the game standing on the ground in front of his family looking like he felt he didn’t belong. I was wondering why he wasn’t hugging his teammates and holding the cup.!! Will always be a Hero and remembered for those ecstatic 17 minutes that turned the game but not for his 2022.!!!

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 5,788]

He will be remembered for being part of an engine room that produced half a quarter a breath taking football the game may never see again.

Having said that Grundy is a better mark than Jacko and has a bigger tank.

Jacko's clear advantage is his athleticism changing direction when the ball in on the deck. 

Plenty of upside for Jackson only 20 we might benefit in the next 5 years with Grundy already hitting his peak years as we speak.