AFL trade news: Fremantle "extremely confident" in landing Demons gun Luke Jackson

The Dockers are looking to lure the 21-year-old home, but do they have the assets to get a deal done?

STAFF WRITER | July 8, 2022 - 10:49am

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Fremantle are reportedly growing "extremely confident" that they will be able to secure up-and-coming Melbourne star Luke Jackson in a blockbuster trade at season's end.

Originally from Perth, Jackson has developed into arguably the most exciting young talent in the game since being drafted by the Demons with Pick 3 at the 2019 AFL Draft.

Any potential trade would likely be complex, given that while Jackson is out of contract, he is still just 21 and not a free agent. Added to that is the fact that he would likely command a lucrative long-term deal to move.

As speculation has mounted all season, the ruck-forward has reportedly been torn about whether to return to Perth for a mega-deal or stay at the club that drafted him to build on last season's success.

Speaking on Fox Footy following Thursday night's game between Melbourne and Geelong, journalist Jon Ralph reported that Jackson has told friends he wants to play for the Dockers, although has not yet fully committed to a move.

“At Melbourne the feeling is the club is losing hope they’re losing their superstar unicorn, as Kingy called him, Luke Jackson,” Ralph said.

“Fremantle is extremely confident he’ll get to the club. My understanding is he’s told some friends 'I would like to be at Fremantle'.

“Certainly he’ll get home at some stage - it’s just whether it’s this contract or a subsequent contract down the road. The official word as recently [as] tonight is there’s no decision yet. He’s had some talks with the club as recently as this week."

The Demons have had to re-sign several big names over the past 12 months. Following huge deals for Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, they have now turned their attention to Jackson and Angus Brayshaw.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 01: Angus Brayshaw of the Demons handballs whilst being tackled during the round three AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Essendon Bombers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 01, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

It has seemed all season that neither Jackson, nor Brayshaw, have been in a rush to re-sign. Rather, they have appeared content to let their football do the talking, while taking stock of the deals given to Oliver and Petracca.

Speaking on the subject, Ralph was quick to cover the Demons' stance on the out-of-contract stars.

“Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert tells me today the club has told Jackson and their fellow free agent Angus Brayshaw there’s no ultimatum, there’s certainly no timeline we’re pushing you on," he said.

“He said 'we made it clear to Jacko and Gus Brayshaw we’ll work with your managers, there’s no date or no hurry. No-one is putting pressure on them. We’d love to think this is the club they’d like to be at.'

“If Jackson does leave it creates real cap space, Max Gawn is contracted until 2025. There is still some hope at Melbourne (he stays) but I think it’s a glimmer of hope right now.”

With Jackson's freakish ability also comes incredible potential, which heavily favours Melbourne's hand at the trade table. The former first-round selection is not a free agent and it will take a war chest to land him.

Luke Jackson during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

Should Jackson nominate the Dockers, they will need to be busy at the trade table. They currently hold just Picks 15, 72 and 87, which would be unlikely to satisfy the Demons.

This year's trade period is already shaping up as an extremely action-packed window.