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The opportunity for Fremantle if Jackson trade rumours are real
Andrew Slevison • March 3rd, 2025 10:10 am
Trade chatter was well and truly alive on Sunday when it was reported that Fremantle’s Luke Jackson may be pondering a potential shift back to Victoria.
Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary reported that the 23-year-old Docker “could explore a shock move after a change in his personal life” with Victorian clubs, headlined by his old side Melbourne, “exploring the possibility of pursuing a trade”.
The report prompted a discussion between SEN Breakfast’s Kane Cornes and David King, with the former sensing an opportunity for the Dockers who continue to be linked with Sydney’s Chad Warner as well as Jackson’s Melbourne premiership teammate Kysaiah Pickett.
He feels the Dockers are already spending too much of their salary cap on ruck/forward Jackson and ruckman Sean Darcy, so a potential trade could be a positive.
Cornes said: “Is there an opportunity for Fremantle if he (Jackson) does want to go somewhere?
“Because they’re trying to get Warner and Pickett in. They don’t have the draft capital to pull off both, but if Luke Jackson was a trade, would that be a better situation for them rather than spending a big chunk of your salary cap on two rucks?”
King asked: “What would you do? Because Darcy is chronically injured.”
Cornes is firmly of the belief that a star ruckman is not a necessity if you want to win a premiership.
With that in mind he would shed Jackson if he does want to head to Victoria with his partner Kelsey Browne, the West Coast Fever netballer who is set to return to her home state to step up her media career.
Cornes says he would jump at the chance to get dynamic small forward Pickett in over a player like Jackson who could be replaced by third choice big man Liam Reidy.
Cornes added: “I don’t mind Reidy. He is the prototype cheaper ruckman that doesn’t take any of your salary cap.
“He can compete like we’ve seen rucks compete for premiership winning teams year after year after year.
“Besides Max Gawn you don’t need an A-grade ruckman to win a premiership and we’ve seen it with Nankervis, Cameron, Boyd, Roughead, Stanley, Fort.
“I think you have can a Darcy Cameron type ruckman or a Reidy type ruckman who can do that. I want a Nankervis type rough and tumble, jump on my back and ‘come with me fellas’ type.
“I’d rather Kozzy Pickett over Luke Jackson. If you’re telling me that Fremantle can open up the door and get Kozzy Pickett by trading Luke Jackson, where do I sign?”
King is also in the Pickett camp, preferring the match-winning abilities of the 23-year-old.
He pondered what it would take to get that deal done.
King: “What if it was - you can have Kozzy Pickett but it’s going to cost you a first-round pick and Luke Jackson?”
Cornes: “No.”
King: “I’m still doing that. You can have Kozzy Pickett for years. He’s a match-winner.
“If you assess his first five years he is absolutely flying with his scoreboard return and the trajectory he’s on.”
Cornes: “Maybe Luke Jackson has looked at these offers coming for players like Tom De Koning and gone, ‘$1.7 million for 10 years?’.”
Freo coach Justin Longmuir already poured cold water on the scuttlebutt after his side defeated the Dees by 19 points in the AAMI Community Series in Mandurah on Sunday.
“Not a concern,” Longmuir told reporters.
“Just nothing I’ve seen of Luke throughout the pre-season has shown me that he wants to leave the club.
“Someone from the club has spoken to him already and he has reiterated that he doesn’t want to go anywhere and he’s never been happier.
“We’ll leave it at that I reckon.”
Perth native Jackson, who was drafted in 2019, won the flag and the Rising Star award with the Dees in 2021 before joining Freo in a trade in the 2022 trade period.
