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Luke Jackson: Contract talks on hold as star Melbourne Demons ruckman edges closer to WA return

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Mark DuffieldThe West Australian
Kysaiah Pickett and Luke Jackson celebrate a goal last night.
Camera IconKysaiah Pickett and Luke Jackson celebrate a goal last night. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Melbourne ruckman Luke Jackson has put contract talks on hold until after the season as speculation builds that he will return to Perth in 2023, with Fremantle the frontrunner for his services.

It comes as Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin declared the club wanted to “maximise” the time it had Jackson, while skipper Max Gawn declared that the speculation swirling around his contract talks had been “water off a duck’s back” and had not affected Jackson’s football.

In the wake of Melbourne’s 46-point win over the Dockers on Friday night, Goodwin said contract talks with Jackson had gone on a lot longer than Melbourne would have liked.

“We want to maximise his ability and maximise the time we have got him and make sure he can play some really good footy for us.”

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Demons football boss Alan Richardson said Jackson would be given as much time as he needed.

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“He has a lovely family over in Perth. We have met with them and we are respecting the call that Jacko and his team need as much time as they think is appropriate to make such an important decision,” he said.

“When you have friends and family talking about your future it would be naive for it not to be swirling around somewhere. But he’s quite a unique kid so he’s been able to stay on track.

“We don’t expect any answers until the season is finished and hopefully he sticks with us.”

Gawn told The West Australian the hype and speculation about Jackson’s future hadn’t fazed the young ruckman.

“It’s been water off a duck’s back with Luke,” Gawn said.

“He just comes in, plays his footy, does his thing.

“I do read the paper so I do know (about Jackson’s contract situation) but the way he acts at the club, you wouldn’t know.”

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 29: Luke Jackson of the Demons heads down to the rooms during the 2022 AFL Round 20 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Melbourne Demons at Optus Stadium on July 29, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Camera IconLuke Jackson goes down to the rooms after a late complaint against Fremantle. Credit: Will Russell/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Meanwhile, acting Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has backed the Dockers to rebound and have an impact in September despite the team’s declining form.

Friday’s loss meant Freo are now winless through their past three matches to slide into the lower half of the top eight.

“We want to go deep in finals and we want the ultimate success. That has been our goal for a couple of years now. We want to be the first team to win a premiership for the Fremantle Dockers,” he told ABC.

“It is not something we shy away from and it is definitely something we still believe in. Our season is not done. We can regroup and find some form before the end of the season.

He labelled the loss to a fired up Melbourne “extremely disappointing”.

“We were beaten in many areas. We knew going into the game that they like the long contest down the line. With the slippery wet conditions the game was always going to be bit more like that.

“They beat us at that game and we just didn’t look damaging going forward when we had the opportunities.”

Poor form in the wet was becoming a trend, he admitted.

“It is something we have addressed internally. We have spoken about the principles of playing in the wet. We touched on that before the game.”

“The contest becomes a lot more important in the wet. I think we were beaten in the contest all round the ground .”

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