I think there are plenty of Tiger fans who would admit that there will have been times when, seeing Dan Jackson with the ball, we have shielded our eyes from the potential disposal atrocity about to unfold. Times when Tiger fans will have questioned the merit of persevering with him.  Times when the spilling over of his on field frustrations will have cost us dearly in 50 metre penalties, turnovers and games lost through suspension.  I admit to harbouring such doubts - and to being completely wrong about this lad as a consequence.

Jackson was pick number 53 in the 2003 AFL draft.  It wasn't a great draft that year either.  For the AFL generally, for Richmond specifically.  Ahead of Jacko we picked Alex Gilmour (never played), and Thomas Roach (11 Richmond games, 1 Richmond goal). After him we picked Shane Morrison (8 games, 3 goals), Brent Hartigan (35 games, 3 goals), the mighty Shane Tuck (so far 167 games, 71 goals), Andrew Raines (56 games, 1 goal) and Kyle Archibald (never played).

Jackson? Til now he's played 136 games and kicked 46 goals.  At 27 years old, he'll play 250 games if he looks after himself.  And you don't go from being pick 53 to a potential 250 gamer without self-belief, hard work, and a strategic brain.  I think he knows his faults and weaknesses better than we do, and like anyone who is gifted with great self-awareness, he has applied himself with heavy commitment to the mitigation of these, while playing to his strengths.  And as such he has gradually evolved into one of those rare players who breaks the limits of their talent through persistent hard work. He's averaging 21 kicks, 5 marks and 4 tackles per game this season, and he is playing with the confidence and freedom that comes with experience and sureness of effort.  Last weekend against the Saints he scooped the full 10 Coaches votes.

But the story of Daniel Jackson is about much more than football. He self-deprecates, sure.  He plays the fool, sure, sure.  He plays his footy hard and instinctively, true, as though beyond football passion there is not much else going on upstairs.  Yet look at him.  Not the footballer but the man.  Commerce degree.  Very Articulate.  Good depth. Cause-worthy.   Every time I hear him speak about any of the causes he takes up I'm impressed by the thought that goes into his words.  He is not just saying things the way he might have been taught to by a media team.  He is speaking from his own head, from his own heart.  Well paid professional footballers can sit back, focus on football and worry about the outside world and their own future much later.  But not Dan Jackson.  

This article in February provided good insight into the drive and discipline required of Dan Jackson by Dan Jackson himself.  Beyond the on field contest (which he has always thrown himself into 100% even when some of the results of doing so have not been terrific), he works hard to get the best out of himself as a person, out of the broader opportunities that he is presented with because of his privileged and very public position. 

There I was watching the sleep-inducing 2012 Brownlow medal count, when I glanced up suddenly to see Dan Jackson on the presentation stage.  Like 95% of the TV audience, I had been drifting in and out of consciousness during the count, so for a very bizarre and heart-leaping moment I thought Jacko had somehow claimed the medal (my second instinctive thought was surely not, doesn't he get rubbed out at least once a season).  What he was in fact receiving was something that I think is a little more profound than that great prize - the inaugural Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.  According to Andrew 'I'm watching you closely Essendon' Demetriou, this was why:

“Daniel has demonstrated the values of Jim Stynes in his commitment to the community and has shown he is an inspiration to others.”

“Not only is Daniel a member of the Richmond leadership group, he has dedicated much of his spare time to his passion towards helping Australia’s youth through his involvement in a number of community organisations. 

“This year, Daniel was appointed onto the national board of the non-for-profit Big Brothers Big Sisters, an internationally renowned youth mentoring organisation. 

“As an ambassador for Headspace, Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation, Daniel supports awareness campaigns around anti-bullying and diversity.

“Daniel has presented to thousands of secondary school students this year, discussing mental health issues and strategies to avoid violent clashes, on behalf of En Masse and Step Back Think.”
 

And the Reach Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sarah Davies said:
 

“His involvement goes beyond wanting to help out: he understands the issues, has developed his expertise and depth of knowledge, is involved in direct service delivery and also advocates for systemic change.”
 

If you are walking in the footsteps of Jim Stynes then you are treading a path of uncommon greatness and grace.  

So, when Dan Jackson scuffs a kick into a turnover these days I chuckle to myself that it's just his charitable streak showing through and I honour him for it.  I honour him greatly for that.

Eat them alive Tigers, eat them alive!