Fremantle’s bid to sign young Melbourne star Luke Jackson is a “big gamble” that won’t solve the Dockers’ most pressing problem, according to Australian double Kane Cornes.
While the Dockers are a good chance to finish in the top four this season, they are expected to be among the most active in the upcoming AFL trade period, with the club heavily linked with out-of-contract Demon Jackson.
Jackson, who won the 2021 Rising Star award in Melbourne’s premiership year, is considering a move to WA, with the Dockers looking well-placed to secure him on a five-year contract estimated to be worth a million dollars per season.
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But speaking on Channel 9 The Sunday Footy ShowCornes said the acquisition of Jackson could create more headaches than solutions for Fremantle.
The Dockers were 50-50 on Friday night but kicked just seven goals in their draw with Richmond, with Matt Taberner and Griffin Logue scoring a goal each.
Their No.1 goalie Rory Lobb did not play through injury, and is expected to join the Western Bulldogs at the end of the season.
Matt Taberner of the Dockers. Image: Michael WillsonSource: Getty Images
“Taberner is 29, he’s a stationary striker who probably doesn’t suit the way key forwards dominate football games, and they’re going to sign Luke Jackson and give up Rory Lobb, who’s been their best player (within 50),” said Cornes The Sunday Footy Show.
“Getting Jackson is good, but it’s not going to solve it. It’s not going to solve your front line issues.
“(Nat) Fyfe’s body is battered and who knows how much leg Nat Fyfe really has left. They thought he could have been a key third-forward option. Griffin Logue is playing forward but can be seen with little success.
“So go for Jackson, but he’s going to have to make a move, and I think that creates a few more problems for Fremantle than it solves. They haven’t had a key forward since (Matthew) Pavlich in 2016 who’s been able to dominate the football matches.
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“So what do you do with Sean Darcy? You’re basically telling Sean Darcy, you’re going to have to change.
“It’s a big gamble for Fremantle, whose issues are clearly still with their key forwards.”
Triple-A forward Cameron Mooney said on Friday night he had major concerns about Freo’s forward set-up.
“I look at their forward line for the final … it’s a concern for me. It’s not something that would scare me if it was a really strong defence,” Mooney said Fox Footy live.
“Taberner is too up and down for a guy with his talent, so we haven’t really seen him in a final either.
“They rely too much on their small forwards to score a winning score and that is very difficult to do in finals time.”
Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said the pressure of joining the Dockers on such a major contract would be “a huge consideration” for Jackson.
To Luke Jackson, off Rory Lobb? Image: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
“Ultimately he’ll do what’s right for him,” Lyon told Fox Footy on Friday night.
“I don’t mind any player moving. That would be soul-destroying for a Melbourne supporter, but that’s the world we live in. But that (the pressure) would be part of the consideration. He said: “D ‘okay, if I’m going to take a lot of money and come in and they have to take off a pair of shoes to come in,’ that’s part of the pressure on a 21- or 22-year-old.
“But I don’t know Luke that well. He might say ‘oh well, bad luck’. He might be so pragmatic and say, ‘I’ve got to look after myself.’