Melbourne GM of Football Performance Alan Richardson has heaped glowing praise on emerging tall Luke Jackson.
Jackson is firming as the favourite to win this year’s Rising Star award on the back of an impressive second season at the Demons.
Richardson revealed to AFL Nation that the 19-year-old ruck-forward played through a “significant” hamstring injury last year when earning the first of his two Rising Star nominations.
“He has that awareness that we’ve seen over the years from the (Scott) Pendlebury-types,” Richardson said.
“He never wastes the footy, he doesn’t look brilliant with ball in hand technically, but it always works.
“If I can give you a quick story that perhaps summarises what he’s like.
“When (Max) Gawn went out of the team towards the back end of last year, ‘Jacko’ came in as the main ruck, did his hammy early in the game … it ended up being a pretty significant injury.
“He played the whole game out and was just outstanding. In fact, he got the Rising Star nomination on the back of it. So that’s what he’s like.
“He’s an ultimate team player. He’ll never get really big numbers because as opposed to pealing off to receive, he’s more likely to go and block or do something that would be for the benefit of others.
“He’s a special player. He loves the contest, he’s clean in contest and he executes in contest.
“We like the way he’s tracking.”
The former No.3 pick collected 16 disposals, won 19 hit-outs and kicked two goals in Melbourne’s win over Adelaide on Sunday.