Luke Jackson's Midfield Transition: Fremantle's Premiership Play
Luke Jackson is transitioning from a versatile ruck-forward role to a pure ball-winning midfielder for the Fremantle Dockers. This shift is intended to enhance the team's midfield operations as they aim for a premiership.
At 199 centimeters, Jackson has been recognized for his athletic ability as a ruckman, possessing aerobic capacity and ground-level ball-winning skills. Fremantle has acknowledged the potential to significantly augment its midfield with this change.
A Strategic Shift for Fremantle
The club identified this move as a longer-term strategy at the end of the previous season. Football boss Joe Brierty stated in September that they aimed for Jackson to develop as a midfielder, undergoing a pre-season with midfield assistant Joel Corey and other midfielders. Brierty also noted the nuance of transitioning from ruck to midfield, with potential for forward roles.
"Football boss Joe Brierty stated in September that they aimed for Jackson to develop as a midfielder, undergoing a pre-season with midfield assistant Joel Corey and other midfielders."
Jackson's Development and Ambition
Jackson is currently training as a pure midfielder, applying lessons from All-Australian teammates in match simulations. He expressed enthusiasm for playing as a full-time midfielder, highlighting his learning from Andy Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, and Joel Corey.
Jackson believes he has advanced his "inside mid craft" and running capacity. He hopes to link with Sean Darcy in the middle, leveraging their combined presence.
Statistical Foundation and Rule Changes
In 21 games last season, Jackson achieved career highs with an average of 17.8 disposals and 3.4 clearances per game. He has played at least 21 matches in every season since his rookie year, demonstrating consistency and durability.
Changes in ruck rules, which prohibit ruckmen from crossing the center line before centre bounces, may further benefit Jackson's athleticism, allowing him to continue attending ruck contests. A potential on-ball rotation could include Andy Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Hayden Young, and Murphy Reid.
Enhanced Team Dynamics and New Acquisitions
Dockers co-vice-captain Caleb Serong commented on the inclusion of Hayden Young and Luke Jackson as "big-bodied mids" who can contribute inside-outside play, enhancing the team's dynamic.
Dockers co-vice-captain Caleb Serong commented on the inclusion of Hayden Young and Luke Jackson as "big-bodied mids" who can contribute inside-outside play, enhancing the team's dynamic.
The acquisition of former Collingwood tall Mason Cox in the off-season further enables Jackson's midfield transition. Cox, a forward-ruck, is expected to fill the second tall role alongside Darcy, potentially allowing Jackson to develop his game between the arcs. Jackson affirmed that Cox's presence adds significant flexibility to the team, as Cox can play both ruck and key forward positions.
High-Performance Drive and Future Outlook
Jackson's confidence in his running capacity is also linked to changes in the club's high-performance department. Adam Heard replaced Phil Merriman as director of performance, leading to player improvements in running capacity and gym results this pre-season.
Serong explained that while daily programming remains similar, subtle adjustments in extra running sessions and training philosophies have introduced a "freshness" to the club. He described these as minor tweaks, noting the shift was new for many young players.
Fremantle, entering 2026 as the eighth-youngest and sixth-least experienced team, is perceived to have a talented roster. Coach Justin Longmuir is in his seventh season. The team's one-point elimination final loss to Gold Coast is considered valuable experience for younger players, despite the outcome. Jackson stated that this finals experience provided a taste of the increased intensity compared to the regular season, which he believes will benefit the team and aid their preparation for the current season.