Why Port Adelaide father-son nominee Jackson Mead is rated so highly by the Power

Jackson Mead – the 18-year-old son of inaugural Power club champion Darren Mead – has such attention to detail that it has become legendary among those who know him. Listen to him on the The Lowdown Podcast

FATHER AND SONS: Inaugural Power club champion Darren Mead with sons, Jackson (left), at age 12, and Mitchell, at age 14. Picture: Sarah Reed

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Port Adelaide father-son nominee Jackson Mead is The Professional.

When members of South Australia’s under-18 team are asked who the most switched on player in their 2019 squad was, the answer is unanimous.

“Jackson was the most professional in our team, his professionalism is second to none,’’ said captain Will Gould, who played in Glenelg’s league premiership team this year at the tender age of 18.

“He just ticks every box.’’

Mead – the 18-year-old son of triple Port Adelaide SANFL premiership defender and inaugural Power club champion Darren Mead – has such attention to detail that it has become legendary among those who know him.

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Two of SA’s top AFL Draft hopefuls Jackson Mead and Cam Taheny join The Advertiser’s AFL Draft podcast. Picture: Simon Cross

Norwood’s Dylan Stephens – tipped to be the first SANFL player picked at the November 27 national draft – recalls rooming with Mead at the AFL under-17 Futures games in Melbourne last year and being blown away by his professionalism.

“Like Gouldy said, it’s second to none,’’ midfielder Stephens said.

“I was rooming with him and lying in bed watching TV and he’s on the roller for 45 minutes and then saying, ‘let’s go to the pool and do some recovery work’.

“He’s just flat out with it and I learnt a lot from him by just the way he goes about it, with what he eats, he’s elite, the most professional of our SA crew.’’

Jackson Mead in action for SA during the AFL Under-18 Championships match against the Allies. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty

Jackson Mead (left) receives his AFL Academy guernsey from Carlton’s 2018 No. 1 draft pick Sam Walsh. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty

When asked at the AFL Draft Combine who he would want as his The Block partner, classy Norwood forward Cam Taheny – in contention to be a first-round selection – did not hesitate to name Mead.

“Because he’s so organised and goes about his stuff in a very professional way,’’ Taheny told The Off-Season Lowdown AFL Draft Podcast.

Mead - who rival clubs can bid for at the draft, but Port hopes any bids come after its third selection at 29 so it can pay a cheaper price for the tough inside midfielder - learnt his professionalism from his dad.

Darren was renowned for his attention to detail and Jackson said he had drummed into him not to leave any stone unturned in his pursuit of excellence.

“Dad had a pretty good career and has sort of been in my back pocket the whole time,’’ Jackson explained.

“He has given me feedback after every game, coached me at SMOSH West Lakes and always talks about doing the extras, the things that no-one sees, whether that be on the (exercise foam) roller, putting the hard work in on and off the track, nutrition or going for a walk in the water at the beach.’’

A super competitive player who hates being beaten, Mead was in the SA under-18 leadership group and named as an All-Australian following the national carnival, where he averaged 106 ranking points and was rated by Champion Data as elite for contested possessions and goals.

Strong overhead and possessing the ability to hit the scoreboard as a forward - he kicked four goals in a best-afield display for Woodville-West Torrens in the 2018 under-18 grand final - Mead said he models his game on “mid-forward hybrids’’, Richmond’s Dustin Martin, Fremantle’s Nathan Fyfe and Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey.

Jackson Mead, left, celebrates a goal for SA during the AFL under-18 championships with teammate Dylan Stephens. Picture: DYLAN BURNS/AFL Photos

He is in line to become just the Power’s second father-son player, following forward Brett Ebert - the son of four-times Magarey Medallist Russell Ebert - in 2002.

The paperwork does not guarantee Port will select Mead - a member of its father-son academy - but it gives the club the option of matching a bid made for him.

Fremantle and Hawthorn appear the clubs most likely to try to hijack the Power's plans, with Mead revealing the two clubs were “keen earlier in the year’’.

Strongly built at 194cm and 83kg, Mead said he had been interviewed by the Crows but that they had told him the chances of him ending up at West Lakes were ‘’minimal’’ after Port nominated him as a father-son prospect.

Having played two league games for the Eagles in rounds 14 and 16, he said it would be a dream come true to play for Port.

But Mead’s main goal is just to find an AFL home.

“It’s nice to be nominated as a father-son, but I’d be grateful to go anywhere,’’ he said.

“I’ve worked hard to be an AFL player for a long time, so to get the opportunity to start an AFL journey would be great.

“I don’t mind what pick I go at, I couldn’t care less if it’s pick 10, 50 or 60, I just want to get to a club.’’