Luke Jackson Biography

Brodie Grundy reveals how a post-season beer with a former Collingwood teammate led to him taking over the No.6 guernsey at Melbourne that had been vacated by Luke Jackson.

Speaking on Friday Knock Offs, Grundy relayed a story of a social catch-up last year with former Magpies teammate Trey Ruscoe, who had also invited Jackson, his ex-teammate from their days together at East Fremantle.

"Luke was like, 'If you do happen to go to the Dees, it'd be sick if you could take my number'. And I went, 'Man, if I do go to the Dees, I will take your number!'," Grundy said.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says the club sees Luke Jackson as a long-term big-bodied midfielder for the club.

"He's a really good ground level player, he's a hard match-up given his size around there. He's got some work to do on his stoppage craft and those sort of things, but it's a long-term (plan) with Luke," Longmuir said.

"We didn't get him to the club for the first three weeks of his career. We hope he's here for 10 years. We look to evolve his game, and try to evolve us as a team as well."

Fremantle secures Luke Jackson from Melbourne in a trade that involved a side deal with GWS sending Toby Bedford to the Giants.

The Demons gained pick 13, Fremantle's future first-round pick and future second-round pick (tied to the Dockers) in exchange for Jackson, picks 44 and 67.

Pick 44 went the way of the Demons after they agreed to trade small forward Bedford to the Giants, and they passed it on to Fremantle in the Jackson deal.

"Luke has been our number one priority all year and obviously throughout the trade period," Fremantle's head of player personnel David Walls said.

"He's got so much versatility and so much scope to improve as a player. We’re really only scratching the surface with what he can do."

Fremantle recruit Luke Jackson knew he wanted to join the Dockers after meeting with Justin Longmuir and Peter Bell in June.

"It was about that bye break in the middle of the season. I got home and was able to meet up with 'JL' and 'Belly'. I was really comfortable around them, so I reckon around that period is when I felt I could lean towards Freo," Jackson said.

"I met with [West Coast] and they did a really good pitch. It was nice to get to know them. But when I met with Freo, I kind of knew that was the place I wanted to be playing. It felt right."

Luke Jackson requests a trade back to Western Australia.

"There is no doubt that we wanted Luke to remain at the Demons, but we respect his decision to want to return home to Western Australia to be closer to his family and friends," Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb said.

"We will now work to secure a deal that compensates the club accordingly."

Melbourne trio Kysaiah Pickett, Luke Jackson and Tom Sparrow, as well as coach Simon Goodwin, will miss Saturday's clash with Hawthorn after entering the AFL's health and safety protocols due to testing positive for COVID-19.

Adem Yze will take the reins in the coaches' box in place of Goodwin for the match.

Fresh from becoming a premiership player with Melbourne, Luke Jackson speaks glowingly of the influence his captain Max Gawn has had on his fledgling career.

"To be able to play more ruck this year and be able to help Maxy out has definitely helped my game. Hopefully, we'll keep doing it as the seasons go on. I've just loved my time this year," Jackson said.

"He's unreal, he's pretty much like a dad to me off the field. I couldn't ask for much more from Maxy, and obviously, a great player to learn off as well."

Luke Jackson wins the Ron Evans medal as the 2021 NAB AFL Rising Star.

"It's a massive honour and I am very humbled to win the NAB Rising Star award. I couldn't have had the season I have without the support of Simon Goodwin, the entire coaching group and all my teammates who have helped to not only develop me as a person but also as a player," Jackson said.

Luke Jackson is the 2021 round seven Rising Star nominee.

Jackson was instrumental in the Demons' come-from-behind win over North Melbourne in Hobart, picking up a career-high 22 disposals and kicking a goal.

Luke Jackson is the 2020 round 10 AFL Rising Star nominee after kicking two goals from eight disposals to go with 14 hitouts as a ruck-forward against the Crows.

Jackson's nomination breaks a four-year drought for Melbourne who last had a young player nominated for the award during the 2016 season.

Luke Jackson makes his AFL debut for Melbourne at Docklands Stadium with 7 disposals (4 kicks and 3 handballs), a mark and a tackle in a 1-point win over Carlton.