Luke Jackson produced a match-winning performance as Fremantle defeated Geelong by 14 points in their AFL semi-final at Optus Stadium, prompting coach Justin Longmuir to describe the ruckman as virtually impossible to contain when he reaches top form.
The Dockers prevailed 18.12 (120) to 16.10 (106), with Jackson again proving decisive in the contests around the ground and inside forward 50.
His display followed a similarly dominant effort against Geelong during the home-and-away season, when he recorded 28 disposals, three goals, nine tackles and 25 hit-outs in Fremantle’s nine-point victory.
Longmuir has increasingly used Jackson as a genuine presence across the field rather than restricting him to traditional ruck duties. That versatility was central to Fremantle’s ability to withstand Geelong’s pressure and secure a place in the preliminary final.
Jackson’s impact was particularly significant as the Dockers recovered from their qualifying-final defeat by Hawthorn. Fremantle, the minor premiers after a club-record home-and-away campaign, had faced the prospect of a straight-sets exit before responding in emphatic fashion.
The result sends Fremantle into a preliminary final for the first time since 2015, while Geelong’s season is over despite the Cats arriving at Optus Stadium on a seven-match winning run.
For Longmuir, Jackson’s performance underlined why opposition teams have struggled to devise a reliable way of limiting him. The 25-year-old’s combination of ruck work, contested possessions, tackling and scoring threat gave the Dockers a decisive advantage when the semi-final was on the line.
