How drought-breaking WA 18s title propelled current Dockers to the AFL

A trio of current Fremantle players know all about winning a drought-breaking title – they did it together for the AAMI WA Football State 18s.

Headlined by ruckman Luke Jackson, fellow East Fremantle product Jeremy Sharp and Perth and Northam export Nathan O’Driscoll, who was still a bottom-ager, the Black Swans ended a 10-year AFL National Under-18s Championship drought back in 2019.

Jackson was one of the stars of the show, finishing runner-up in the Larke Medal as the player of the carnival by just one vote to then WA teammate turned West Coast recruit Deven Robertson, who was drafted to the Brisbane Lions later that year alongside Jaxon Prior.

Jackson was also named in the Under-18s All-Australian Team for a brilliant carnival, capped off by a stunning performance in the thrilling five-point victory over Vic Country – which included now Dockers teammates Caleb Serong and Hayden Young – at Marvel Stadium to seal the title.

RELATED ARTICLES

• WA teens to feature in AFL Grand Final curtain-raiser
• EGT WAFL Colts Team of the Year
• Sharks prevail in EGT WAFL Colts decider
• Chace the ace! Bottom-aged Bulldog wins Jack Clarke Medal

His kick inside 50 in the dying seconds found after-the-siren match-winner Regan Clarke inside 50 with his left boot to cap off a big game, with 37 hit-outs, 19 disposals, five clearances and five inside 50s.

Luke Jackson during his WA under-18s days. Credit: AFL Photos

The talent-laden side also included former Docker turned Saint Liam Henry, Sydney Swans stars Chad Warner and Logan McDonald, Melbourne premiership player Trent Rivers, Essendon pair Nic Martin and Prior, ex-West Coast AFL player turned WAFL captain Callum Jamieson, former top-10 draft pick Denver Grainger-Barras, Western Bulldog Riley Garcia, former Adelaide Crow and current Claremont player Ronin O’Connor, ex-Dockers rookie and current Swan Districts player Jarvis Pina and former Port Adelaide defender and current Swan Jake Pasini and former West Coast rookie and current Falcon Ben Johnson.

Seven years later and Jackson will be looking to break another long-standing drought and help deliver the Dockers their maiden AFL premiership.

If he does, it will be his second AFL flag after his first came at Optus Stadium for Melbourne in 2021 – just his second year in the AFL after the Demons drafted him with pick No.3 in the 2019 AFL National Draft.

Sharp and O’Driscoll have already tasted premiership success this month for the Dockers’ WAFL affiliate Peel Thunder.

Sharp was named Simpson Medallist after a best-on-ground performance in the Thunder’s massive win over Claremont at Optus Stadium on Sunday, finishing with 27 disposals, seven inside 50s and a goal to put his hand up for an AFL recall.

O’Driscoll, who has played 17 games for the Dockers this season including their Qualifying Final loss to Hawthorn, tallied 22 disposals, seven inside 50s and six marks in an important role on the wing.