Luke Jackson is one of a small number of athletic ruckmen who will be advantaged by rule changes stipulated by the AFL for the 2026 season, banning the technique of wrestling under ball ups before the footy drops. His high-leaping style is much better suited to the new rules, especially in comparison to his more lugubrious tandem ruck teammate Sean Darcy. Having one of each style has been very useful for the Dockers in recent years, but fantasy coaches will be looking eagerly to see whether LJax can claim a lead ruck spot and escape the tandem stat handbrake.
Luke Jackson is one of a small number of athletic ruckmen who will be advantaged by rule changes stipulated by the AFL for the 2026 season, banning the technique of wrestling under ball ups before the footy drops. His high-leaping style is much better suited to the new rules, especially in comparison to his more lugubrious tandem ruck teammate Sean Darcy. Having one of each style has been very useful for the Dockers in recent years, but fantasy coaches will be looking eagerly to see whether LJax can claim a lead ruck spot and escape the tandem stat handbrake.
Luke Jackson has suddenly risen in fantasy popularity after midweek news of a long-term layoff of first-choice Fremantle ruck Sean Darcy. Before and after his stint at Melbourne, Jackson's trademark is the quick burst to carve a swathe into the opposition with a string of centre clearances, but can he carry the ruck solo for months at a time? Plenty of fantasy coaches think so, and will ride him into 2024 in the hope that he can find another level to his scoring floor than just the odd scintillating, game-changing quarter.
Luke Jackson is arguably the next prototype ruckman of the league, already instrumental in a premiership with his part in the third-quarter blitz last October and more than capable of contributing around the ground on the stat sheet and in the front third on the scoreboard. The Demons structure seems to be to let Max Gawn sit behind the ball and let Jackson stay on field in front of the contest, a very trendy tandem which has been very lucrative for both players. His personal fantasy output is not reliable enough yet to start, but he is a lovely keeper league asset.
Luke Jackson may have won the Rising Star award this week but as a fantasy asset he has been unhelpful, like just about every ruckman is regardless of job security. His role is starting as third tall forward and interchanging in ruck, often playing as a decoy to allow room for the other key forwards to have a run at the footy. Max Gawn is the workhorse in the middle, making Jackson a bit player even if he plays it impressively. His dynasty league owners will probably have to wait the usual five years for him to blossom into a scoring player, as usual.
Luke Jackson has been picked to lead the Melbourne ruck division this week in his sixth senior game with Max Gawn rested, and he comes up against the most consistent ruckman of the past decade in Todd Goldstein. A recipe for disaster, surely? But for daily fantasy purposes it is all about value for money, as his price is still very low based on a few games of forward/ruck work and not on a full game in the guts at stoppages. Is it worth chasing value with Jackson or going the safe route of paying up for Goldie gold? The winner of today's contests will pick right.
Like lore on Jackson
One of Australia's best junior basketballers, Luke Jackson arrives aiming to fulfil the club's lofty expectations with pick three. The West Australian enjoyed a dominant Championships, averaging 14 touches and 37 hit outs to finish second in the Larke Medal. Jackson is likely to spend time developing his craft in the VFL side, trying to become influential in the forward half in the short term to go past Braydon Preuss for a forward pocket spot supporting in ruck. There will be interest in him due to Max Gawn's injury, but only from salary cap competitions.
