A Six-Pack Of IPA (Interesting Points, Allegedly): Unicorn Luke Jackson lives up to name with unique stat line

Action Jackson As the Dockers mull a potential recall for Sean Darcy, it’s hard to ignore the eye-popping numbers being produced by Luke Jackson. According to Champion Data’s player ratings, which have been in place since 2010, the ruck star’s masterclass score of 36 against Port Adelaide was not only the highest-rating game by a Docker, but the highest-ever output by any ruckman across the league in that time. That effort has helped launch Jackson to be the highest-rated player in the AFL since round 10, a stretch that includes three of his five games without Darcy. Jackson embodied his ‘unicorn’ tag by producing a truly unique stat line, becoming the first player ever to record 20+ disposals, 10+ clearances, 45+ hitouts and multiple goals in a game. Freo milestone, part I Caleb Serong has long been among the most consistent midfielders in the game – and he’s now on the brink of extending a clearance streak to become the outright second-longest ever. Serong has reeled off 28 consecutive games with five or more clearances, matching the feat of ex-teammate David Mundy (2014-15) and former Swan Josh Kennedy (2012-13). The only longer such run since clearances were first registered as a stat in 1998 belongs to Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver, who produced 53 straight between 2021 and 2023. Freo milestone, part II With his eighth disposal this weekend, Andrew Brayshaw will join the 4K disposal club – and he’s only marginally missed out on being the fastest WA-based player to hit the milestone. Health permitting, Brayshaw will notch his 4000th in his 161st career game, just three matches shy of joining the three-way tie of Matt Priddis, Nat Fyfe and Andrew Gaff, who all reached the mark in their 158th appearances in a statistical coincidence. FASTEST WA-BASED PLAYERS TO 4000 DISPOSALS Big break, bad business It’s normally the short gaps between games that clubs are worried about, but longer breaks have been a killer for West Coast in the past half-decade. Since COVID hit in early 2020, the Eagles have lost all 10 of their matches when coming off an in-season break of nine days or more, at a whopping average of 52.9 points. West Coast face ladder-leaders Collingwood this week off a 13-day break. Ross returns, at long last Remember that night in 2019 when Aaron Sandilands hoisted fellow retiree Hayden Ballantyne onto his shoulders as they farewelled the Freo faithful? It was a long time ago – and it was also the most recent Dockers game in WA that Ross Lyon attended ahead of his long-awaited return this weekend. In the 61 matches of his most recent St Kilda stint, Lyon has faced West Coast in Perth, both Adelaide clubs in South Australia, both Sydney clubs in NSW and both Queensland clubs in the Sunshine State – but has somehow been able to go more than two-and-a-half seasons before being drawn to take on the Dockers in WA. Ch-ch-changes West Coast may this week look to draw on their 2022 boilover win over Collingwood at Marvel Stadium for inspiration – but there’s a surprisingly low number of players from that day who’ll take to the field this weekend. Of the team that played for the Eagles before last week’s bye, just two players – Liam Duggan and Liam Ryan – were involved in that upset triumph, while Brady Hough should make it three as he eyes a return from illness.