Melbourne CEO Peter Jackson says ‘you know the beauty of youth, it’s that they don’t fear’

MELBOURNE chief executive Peter Jackson says the Demons’ youthful exuberance holds the key to unlocking West Coast’s Perth Stadium fortress.

Angus Brayshaw celebrates a goal.

MELBOURNE chief executive Peter Jackson says the Demons’ youthful exuberance holds the key to unlocking West Coast’s Perth Stadium fortress.

Much has been made of the deafening acoustics inside footy’s newest cauldron, but Jackson believed it would do nothing to unsettle Simon Goodwin’s young charges in Saturday’s preliminary final.

“You know the beauty of youth, it’s that they don’t fear,” Jackson said.

CRUCIAL TAP: GAWN IGNORES RUNNER, IGNITES DEES

BELIEF: DEMONS RESPOND TO BRUTAL HAWKS SLEDGE

BEST ON: DEMONS, HAWKS PLAYER RATINGS

“I’m too old to remember, but the things you dare to do when you’re younger, I think that’s the best chance they’ve got - their talent and lack of fear.”

Jackson will retire at seasons end after a distinguished football administration career that included a CEO and managing director stint at Essendon from 1996 to 2009.

He arrived at Melbourne during its darkest hour - May, 2013 - and has been pivotal in the resurgence of the oldest club in the game.

Mitch Hannan kicks for goal.

Angus Brayshaw kicks a goal. Picture: Michael Klein

“I’m really proud and I’m not ready to stop,” Jackson said after Friday night’s semi-final win against Hawthorn.

“I said to Simon (Goodwin) before the game, ‘Please don’t let this be the last time I come to the MCG’,” he said.

“We’ve got a preliminary final now, which is fantastic.”

Asked if he marvelled at how far the club has come since he walked in the doors, Jackson said: “It’s like watching a kid grow up. It’s only when the old rellies come in and say, ‘My, how much has he grown?’.

“It’s a bit different when you’re so involved in it and close to it on a daily basis and you know you’re on the right path.

“We really are where we planned to be at this point. We’ve got there, but to everyone else, I get it. You look in and say, ‘Where did this come from?’”

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin and his players stand for the national anthem.

Melbourne’s preliminary final clash against West Coast has been scheduled for 1.20pm local time, raising concerns heat could disadvantage the winner in a Grand Final against a rival coming off a Friday night game in Melbourne.

A top of 26C is forecast for Saturday in Perth, but Jackson said any weather concerns were outweighed by travel needs.

“It’s a problem in the sense that we’ve just got to get back,” he said.

“If we’re lucky enough to win we’ve got to get back and back by midnight, which means a 6pm flight and that means you’ve got to play the game at a certain time.

“We’ll have a chat to the footy Gods and see if we can bring on a cooler day.

“We’re there with a chance and we beat them a while ago over there so we’ve got to believe.”