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He only had half a season at the saints and still kicked 43 goals. Crazy stat.
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Possibly just would have carried on like a galah anyway whether it helped his off-field career or not. But he definitely turned his attention-seeking behaviour to his own advantage.
Bit hard when you've got Roach kicking a ton and Cloke at CHF.Seems like hardly anyone wants to claim him.
So I’ll take him to the Richmond reserves.
He is the only reserve player I have strong memories from. We only rocked up at a game with 15 minute left in the last quarter, but his long blond hair and angry presence stood out. Also usually kicked some goals in dying minutes and when someone in the crowd asked how many Jackson got? Around 10…. It’s a wonder he didn’t get at least one game in the seniors in 1980. Would not have happened today…
Describing Mark Jackson as a gun is a pretty broad use of the term. He didn't debut until 21yo, and averaged 9 disposals, a bit over 3 marks, and 3.76 goals per game when full forwards scored a lot more than now. He never won a Coleman, got 6 career Brownlow votes and never played in a final. Whilst strong, I am not sure he was too intimidating, which is probably why he chose to carry on like a galah to try create some doubts in opponent's minds. He was more or less just a ball player the majority of the time, didn't move fast enough to be too dangerous. Players that called his bluff didn't have too much trouble handling him.
In his best seasons he was 10, 18, and 28 goals off the Coleman and his best season he basically averaged 4 goals per game. In fact that was his ceiling. He was very much a second rung full forward in his career in the VFL. Very consistent output was about the best thing you could say about him.
At VFL level he was just a good average player, as they used to say.
His goal average is Top 20 of all time, so he was certainly better than you’re giving him credit for.
To be fair in Jacko's own words, he is an individual... so he didn't really belong to any club.Seems like hardly anyone wants to claim him.
So I’ll take him to the Richmond reserves.
He is the only reserve player I have strong memories from. We only rocked up at a game with 15 minute left in the last quarter, but his long blond hair and angry presence stood out. Also usually kicked some goals in dying minutes and when someone in the crowd asked how many Jackson got? Around 10…. It’s a wonder he didn’t get at least one game in the seniors in 1980. Would not have happened today…
Isabellas and The Grain Store probably got a run as well.As a player of the 80s I'm guessing Chasers on a Thursday, The Tunnel on a Saturday, with a smattering of the Metro, Chevron, Redheads and Saloon Bar.
BT also kicked a heap of goals from CHF in the twos.Bit hard when you've got Roach kicking a ton and Cloke at CHF.
Lane kicked the ton in the u/19s too from memory.
A champagne year for Tiger full forwards.
story has it back in 83 when he was at the Saints then coach Tony Jewel came up with this plan to use Jacko as a decoy because he was getting so much attention to from the defenders and often the second defender was moving off his man to double up on him so at training they run plays where Jacko would run to the pocket dragging the defenders with him come game day Tony Jewel gives the boys a rev up and asks Jacko if he is clear with the instruction and Jacko say "yep mate all good i know what i gotta do" any way first forward entry Jacko rund straight at the bal marks it and goals ... second entry he pushes off his teammate marks and goals.. third time ball comes in he runs out marks infront of his team mate ..He only had half a season at the saints and still kicked 43 goals. Crazy stat.
Yep that bolded and underlined bit describes Tony Lockett. Crazy that Tony Lockett was 16 years old to be on the Saints list and only 17 years and 38 days old when he had his debut game.story has it back in 83 when he was at the Saints then coach Tony Jewel came up with this plan to use Jacko as a decoy because he was getting so much attention to from the defenders and often the second defender was moving off his man to double up on him so at training they run plays where Jacko would run to the pocket dragging the defenders with him come game day Tony Jewel gives the boys a rev up and asks Jacko if he is clear with the instruction and Jacko say "yep mate all good i know what i gotta do" any way first forward entry Jacko rund straight at the bal marks it and goals ... second entry he pushes off his teammate marks and goals.. third time ball comes in he runs out marks infront of his team mate ..
Qtr time comes Tony Jewel is fuming come up to Jacko and say "what about the plan? " jacko responds "im the only one at St Kilda that kicks the F***ing goals mate thats the only F****ing plan you need to worry bout" ... and thats why Jacko only played one season at St Kilda ... the next year a shy kid from the bush got his spot and proceeded to kick 898 goals for us
He played in an era of abundant goals. If he produced a similar level of performance in the modern era, ie about 20% below the Coleman Medallist, he would probably average about 2.2 goals per game. Probably somewhere around Ben Brown's average level of performance.
In the modern era, the median scoring team produces around 265 goals in a 22 round home and away season.
During the Jackson playing era, the median scoring team produced closer to around 330 goals per 22 game home and away season.
If you refer to the following tables, scroll down to the second one, averages by year. Jackson was active 1981-87 I think. This was right in the middle of the huge scoring spike that occurred 1977-1993. Teams averaged throughout that period roughly 15 goals per game. This compares with the late 60's and the modern era where scoring has been anywhere in the 10-12 goal per game per team range.
AFL Tables - Yearly Stats Totals And Averages
So that alone is a huge difference. But also at the time Jackson played, all teams essentially had similar game plans. They would direct the football to their full forward who would often be one out against his opponent. And that full forward barely ever left the 50 metre arc, so he had no other real role in the team other than to kick goals. Which meant full forwards got a higher percentage of their own teams goals than they do in the current era.
So he was a tidy player Jackson, but by no means a star. And if he is in the top 20 all time for goal average, this in no way says he is in the top 20 full forwards of all time. He is nowhere even close to that.
No, he was certainly a star. He was much better than you give him credit for. If you want to restrict it to his era then fine - from 81 to 86 - as you say an era of abundant scoring.
Five players kicked more goals than him: Quinlan, Beasley, BT, Roach and Lethal. All superstar goalkickers. And he played less games than all of them in that period.
Of that group, only BT and Beasley have better goal averages (both marginally).
His average for the period across all players was fourth - behind just those two and Blight, who is an all time legend.
Quinlan was the star goalkicker of 81-86 with 483 goals across the six seasons. Jackson went at a better rate per game than him.
He was much better than “tidy” or “average”. He was an absolute elite key forward talent of his time.
Of course he’s not some all-time legend. He was a hugely flawed character who was largely despised by his teammates (and rightfully so) and couldn’t go five minutes without doing something totally moronic.
But despite that, his goalkicking numbers are in the very top bracket of his time and his talent has to be respected.
He should never have been anywhere near league footy yet four VFL clubs (plus Brunswick and South Freo) gave him a chance. There’s a good reason for that, he was one of the very best goalkickers in the country. His numbers show it.
But he was the absolute elite #1 dickhead in the country, which overshadowed it all (understandably).
Fast he was not, but everything else is correct. He waa quick thinking on field & was very good in the WAFL when it was still a strong league
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All these antics and showmanship take energy and thought.No, he was certainly a star. He was much better than you give him credit for. If you want to restrict it to his era then fine - from 81 to 86 - as you say an era of abundant scoring.
Five players kicked more goals than him: Quinlan, Beasley, BT, Roach and Lethal. All superstar goalkickers. And he played less games than all of them in that period.
Of that group, only BT and Beasley have better goal averages (both marginally).
His average for the period across all players was fourth - behind just those two and Blight, who is an all time legend.
Quinlan was the star goalkicker of 81-86 with 483 goals across the six seasons. Jackson went at a better rate per game than him.
He was much better than “tidy” or “average”. He was an absolute elite key forward talent of his time.
Of course he’s not some all-time legend. He was a hugely flawed character who was largely despised by his teammates (and rightfully so) and couldn’t go five minutes without doing something totally moronic.
But despite that, his goalkicking numbers are in the very top bracket of his time and his talent has to be respected.
He should never have been anywhere near league footy yet four VFL clubs (plus Brunswick and South Freo) gave him a chance. There’s a good reason for that, he was one of the very best goalkickers in the country. His numbers show it.
But he was the absolute elite #1 dickhead in the country, which overshadowed it all (understandably).
No, he was certainly a star. He was much better than you give him credit for. If you want to restrict it to his era then fine - from 81 to 86 - as you say an era of abundant scoring.
Five players kicked more goals than him: Quinlan, Beasley, BT, Roach and Lethal. All superstar goalkickers. And he played less games than all of them in that period.
Of that group, only BT and Beasley have better goal averages (both marginally).
His average for the period across all players was fourth - behind just those two and Blight, who is an all time legend.
Quinlan was the star goalkicker of 81-86 with 483 goals across the six seasons. Jackson went at a better rate per game than him.
He was much better than “tidy” or “average”. He was an absolute elite key forward talent of his time.
Of course he’s not some all-time legend. He was a hugely flawed character who was largely despised by his teammates (and rightfully so) and couldn’t go five minutes without doing something totally moronic.
But despite that, his goalkicking numbers are in the very top bracket of his time and his talent has to be respected.
He should never have been anywhere near league footy yet four VFL clubs (plus Brunswick and South Freo) gave him a chance. There’s a good reason for that, he was one of the very best goalkickers in the country. His numbers show it.
But he was the absolute elite #1 dickhead in the country, which overshadowed it all (understandably).
This sums up his entire career really well.Kicked a lot of goals, started a lot of bullshit and often managed to be a net negative influence on games for the Cats. Didn't see much of him elsewhere but I imagine it was the same s**t.