Luke Jackson’s stunning performance against Geelong has sent the hype around the Fremantle ruckman into overdrive and he now sits among the Brownlow Medal favourites.
And former Adelaide champion Rory Sloane believe he is “good enough” to become the first lead ruckman to win the medal since 1992.
Jackson is widely tipped to knock off his former Melbourne mentor and ruck star Max Gawn as the lead All-Australian ruckman, but Sloane believes he could be on track for even higher honours amid another career-high campaign.
The WA product has been the superstar of Fremantle’s record-breaking 13-game winning streak and has been called the “most important” player in the AFL by Richmond great Matthew Richardson as well as the Dockers’ key to a maiden premiership by The West Australian’s expert analyst Danielle Laidley.
Jackson could move as high as second in the AFL Coaches Association’s AFL Champion Player Award, alongside the likes of Nick Daicos and Isaac Heeney, if he gets 10 votes from the win over Geelong as expected on Monday and remains the sixth favourite for the Brownlow Medal according to TAB.
“They’ve got, probably, the most complete player in the game in Luke Jackson,” Sloane said on the Sunday Footy Show.
“I’ll give you some of his numbers from the weekend. He had six clearances, nine tackles as a ruckman, he kicked three goals, and he had a truck-load of footy.
“He is one of the complete players. He’s an extra midfielder, and it’s an absolute weapon to have.”
Footscray big man Scott Wynd was the last pure ruckman to claim the biggest individual prize in football in 1992, while Adam Goodes’ 2003 Brownlow came in a season with heavy ruck minutes, averaging 12 hitouts per game.
And Sloane says Jackson is good enough to follow in their footsteps.
“He’s good enough to (win the Brownlow),“ he said.
“But I don’t think people value him enough. He’s so good, he’s an absolute shoo-in for All-Australian.
“He’s in ripping form and a big reason the Dockers are going so well, and they are hard to match up against.”
The Dockers’ road to September is also expected to be littered with plenty more wins, with Sydney in Perth their biggest challenge on the run home, while they still have clashes with Port Adelaide, West Coast and Carlton to come.
Jackson’s numbers do his Brownlow Medal case no harm, the ruckman putting up career highs in disposals, tackles, clearances, kicks and handballs as well as hitouts.
The big man is even averaging eight hitouts to advantage per game, nearly double his career average.