Replay: North Adelaide midfielder Hugh Jackson shines in Roosters’ under-18 clash with the Eagles

North Adelaide young gun Hugh Jackson has produced another stellar display in his team’s thrilling SANFL under-18 clash with the Eagles. Relive all the action now in our full match replay.

Patrick Keam

@patkeam

2 min read

May 8, 2021 - 4:41PM

The Messenger

Young gun Hugh Jackson will be among the AFL Draft hopefuls to watch in the live stream of North Adelaide’s under-18 clash with the Eagles. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

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For a humble kid from a country town in SA’s Mid North, Hugh Jackson sure knows how to put his name up in lights.

The North Adelaide ball magnet has set the SANFL under-18s competition alight with his silky skills and ability to accumulate huge possession numbers.

Jackson’s 166 disposals from five games leads the league and included a 38-touch display in the opening match and 37 in round four.

He will be one of many young stars to watch this Saturday as the Roosters clash with rival Woodville-West Torrens in the under-18 Torrens University Cup.

The match will be live streamed on advertiser.com.au from 2pm as part of a triple-header day of SANFL action.

The Crystal Brook product said stepping into a midfield role this season was a challenge but one he had worked hard at.

Rising North Adelaide midfielder Hugh Jackson works as a landscaper. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“I was predominantly an outside player on the wing the last couple of years,” Jackson said.

“I’ve tried to find a bit more contested footy and have been working on that side of my game more and more.

“I’m just trying to work as hard as I can to maximise my ability and see where it can take me.”

And Jackson believed hard work off the field had also helped to take his game up a notch.

The 18-year-old graduated from Rostrevor College last year but is eligible for the 2021 AFL Draft.

While many other draft hopefuls will spend the year balancing football and school, Jackson has been working as a landscaper, something he believed would hold him in good stead for the season.

He also hoped to follow in the footsteps of two other Crystal Brook products – brothers Campbell and Will Combe – and break into the Roosters’ league side.

“Being able to focus on work during the day and then switching straight into footy mode – I’m finding it a bit easier than I was when I was at school with the workload,” he said.

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“To be drafted would be a dream or even getting a league game during the year.

“With Campbell being a mentor back home, I idolise him and Will and try to soak up as much from them as I can … it would be great to follow in their footsteps.”

Jackson will likely be a marked man against the Eagles after he racked up 37 disposals against them last time out.

“We’ve built a bit of a rivalry with the Eagles and I’ve always love rivalries, so I’m really looking forward to this week,” he said.

Another strong performance will be key for the young talent, whose next step will be making the SA squad for the national under-19 championships to be played later this year.