Luke Jackson (footballer)

Luke Jackson (born 29 September 2001) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), having previously played for the Melbourne Football Club.

Early life
Jackson attended Willetton Senior High School in Perth, Western Australia. He was childhood friends with NBA draft pick Luke Travers. The pair both attended Willetton Senior together as part of their renowned basketball academy. He was also childhood friends with fellow 2019 AFL draft pick Trey Ruscoe, the pair attended the same primary school and played junior football together.

Early basketball and football
In 2018, Jackson represented Australia at the Under-17 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Argentina and won gold at the Under-16 FIBA Asia Championship in China. He was named in the all-tournament team for the U16 Asian Championship. The AIS basketball program was keen for him to move to Canberra in 2019 and begin a pathway which could have led him to college in the United States.

Jackson represented Western Australia at the AFL Under 18 Championships for two seasons, where he ended up winning under-18 All Australian selection. He also played for the East Fremantle Sharks for the 2019 season in the colts division. Jackson grew up as a supporter of the Fremantle Football Club.

AFL career
Jackson was recruited by Melbourne with pick 3 in the 2019 AFL draft. Jackson debuted in the Demons' one-point win over the Carlton Blues in the second round of the 2020 AFL season. He collected 7 disposals, 1 behind and 1 tackle. After being omitted for the next 3 rounds, Jackson re-entered the team in Round 7. He won the Rising Star nomination for Round 10. In that game he kicked 2 goals, including the opening goal. On top of that, he also collected 8 disposals, 14 hitouts and 2 marks. At the conclusion of the year he took out the Harold Ball Memorial Trophy, an award given to the best young talent for the Melbourne Demons. Jackson re-signed for a one-year contract extension at the end of the year, keeping him at the club until 2022.

Jackson became a part of a select few players in the AFL to receive two Rising Star nominations in their careers after he received a 2021 AFL Rising Star nomination for his 22 disposal, 1 goal performance in Round 7 of the 2021 AFL season, and won the award overall at the season's conclusion. Jackson was a part of Melbourne's 57 year drought breaking Grand Final victory over the Western Bulldogs.

Following Melbourne's loss to the Brisbane Lions in the 2022 semi-final, Jackson reportedly met with the club and formally requested a trade to his home state of Western Australia, however he did not nominate a specific club and allowed offers from both West Coast and Fremantle. Jackson was traded to Fremantle on October 10 for a first-round pick, a future first-round pick and a future second-round pick. Upon joining Fremantle Jackson signed a seven year contract tying him to Fremantle until at least 2029.

Round 15 of the 2023 AFL season saw Jackson kick three goals during Fremantle's 32 point win over at Optus Stadium. Western Derby 57 saw Jackson collect 19 disposals, 26 hitouts and kick a goal in Fremantle's win over West Coast. He finished the game equal best on ground after tying with Lachie Schultz for the Glendinning–Allan Medal. He finished his first season at Fremantle with a fourth place finish in the club's fairest and best award.

He was ranked the sixth best ruckman in the league by Nine's Wide World of Sports in February of 2024. Jackson made the line-up for Fremantle's opening game of the 2024 AFL season against the at Optus. He was named as the solo ruckman after fellow ruckman and teammate Sean Darcy was ruled out due to injury. Jackson was impressive collecting 30 hit-outs and kicking two goals in the 23 point come from behind win. He was arguably Fremantle's best player the next week against at Marvel Stadium, collecting 24 disposals, 21 hit-outs, two goals and 10 score involvements.

Statistics
Updated to the end of round 17, 2024.

! colspan=3 | Career ! 91 !! 66 !! 52 !! 505 !! 785 !! 1290 !! 269 !! 268 !! 1200 !! 0.7 !! 0.6 !! 5.5 !! 8.6 !! 14.2 !! 3.0 !! 2.9 !! 13.2 !! 11
 * 2020 || || 6
 * 6 || 3 || 2 || 19 || 33 || 52 || 9 || 8 || 29 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 3.1 || 5.5 || 8.7 || 1.5 || 1.3 || 4.8 || 0
 * scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | 2021# || || 6
 * 24 || 16 || 9 || 107 || 201 || 308 || 72 || 48 || 255 || 0.7 || 0.4 || 4.5 || 8.4 || 12.8 || 3.0 || 2.0 || 10.6 || 3
 * 2022 || || 6
 * 22 || 11 || 12 || 118 || 185 || 303 || 65 || 81 || 243 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 5.4 || 8.4 || 13.8 || 3.0 || 3.7 || 11.0 || 2
 * 2023 || || 9
 * 23 || 22 || 19 || 165 || 181 || 346 || 78 || 81 || 406 || 1.0 || 0.8 || 7.2 || 7.9 || 15.0 || 3.4 || 3.5 || 17.7 || 6
 * 2024 || || 9
 * 16 || 14 || 10 || 96 || 185 || 281 || 45 || 50 || 268 || 0.9 || 0.6 || 6.0 || 11.6 || 17.6 || 2.8 || 3.1 || 16.8 || TBC
 * - class=sortbottom
 * 23 || 22 || 19 || 165 || 181 || 346 || 78 || 81 || 406 || 1.0 || 0.8 || 7.2 || 7.9 || 15.0 || 3.4 || 3.5 || 17.7 || 6
 * 2024 || || 9
 * 16 || 14 || 10 || 96 || 185 || 281 || 45 || 50 || 268 || 0.9 || 0.6 || 6.0 || 11.6 || 17.6 || 2.8 || 3.1 || 16.8 || TBC
 * - class=sortbottom
 * - class=sortbottom
 * }

Honours and achievements
Team
 * AFL premiership player : 2021
 * McClelland Trophy : 2021

Individual
 * AFL Rising Star nominee: 2020 (Round 10)
 * Harold Ball Memorial Trophy: 2020
 * 22under22 team: 2021
 * AFL Rising Star: 2021