Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Brisbane’s two-time premiership-winning ruckman Darcy Fort is bracing himself for the “unique challenge” of taming Fremantle big man Luke Jackson in Saturday’s AFL grand final at the MCG.
Jackson has been superb for the Dockers this season, with his form securing him All-Australian selection alongside the man regarded as the competition best ruckman, Melbourne’s Max Gawn.
If Jackson fires on Saturday, it could prove fatal to Brisbane’s hope of securing a hat-trick of flags.
“He’s definitely a unique challenge with his athleticism and power,” Fort said of the man dubbed the “Unicorn”.
“He’s had a fantastic year.”
Jackson is set to be aided by former Collingwood star Mason Cox in rucking duties, while Fort will again work in tandem with ex-Bombers giant Sam Draper, who is a win away from winning a premiership in his first season with the Lions.
“It’ll be up to me and ‘Drapes’ to get a lot of the work done, but as a team there’s definitely a focus on us to try to take away some of (Jackson’s) strengths,” Fort said.
Fort, 33, has enjoyed his combination with Draper, who will celebrate his 28th birthday next Monday.
“When he got to the club, you could see straight away how good a team man he was and how willing he was to come in and play his role,” Fort said of the South Australian product.
“It’s been great to see, and hopefully we get to see it again this weekend.”
Fort said Draper and the Lions’ other prized recruit ahead of Brisbane’s 2026 campaign, former West Coast Eagles co-captain Oscar Allen, had a “fantastic impact” at the Lions this year.
“It’d be great to see those guys rewarded (with a premiership). Definitely that’s another motivating factor for us,” Fort said.
Despite the Lions preparing to play in a fourth successive grand final, Fort said there remained a “nervous excitement” about the week ahead.
“It’s obviously going to be a big challenge. They’re a great team Freo, and we’re looking forward to it,” said Fort, who added how “proud” he was of his team for beating Hawthorn by nine points in a weekend preliminary final being regarded as one of the greatest games of all-time.
“We’re still a bit shell-shocked but now on to bigger and better this week.”
