The Buzz: Daniel Jackson among likely AFL best-and-fairest winners Jon Ralph
Herald Sun
July 16, 2013 11:00PMRICHMONDPrediction: Daniel Jackson from Brett Deledio.
We suggested on SEN Radio on Thursday night that Dan Jackson might win the Richmond best-and-fairest.
Mark Fine was a little shocked, but after some thought came close to agreeing.
After Jackson dominated Gary Ablett on Saturday night the football community was unanimous.
Finally over hamstring tendonitis that limited his training, he has been consistent throughout games and throughout the season.
He has eradicated the turnovers that once plagued his game, been huge in crunch games like the Gold Coast contest and the West Coast win, and tackled like a demon.
Who might beat him?
Maybe Brett Deledio, with Trent Cotchin considerably down on his output.
But then again, Deledio has had perhaps four poor games, which will count against him.
Dustin Martin and particularly Bachar Houli are top-three contenders.
All of Steve Morris, Shane Edwards, Alex Rance, and particularly Troy Chaplin have been excellent, too.
Chaplin kicks helicopters and looks all at sea at times, but he is more composed than he looks and his opponents don't kick goals.
He has been yet another super acquisition for Richmond.
SUPERCOACH TOP 5
108 Trent Cotchin
107 Brett Deledio
103 Dustin Martin
95 Ivan Maric
94 Bachar Houli
Dan Jackson will never make history, but given there were calls for him to be dropped last year his rise has been meteoric.
The Herald Sun ran a headline early last year titled "Dan's Not The Man'' after a spate of turnovers, and it was entirely justified.
But every time Richmond has won a crunch match this year it has been Jackson chasing and tackling, and forcing turnovers and even delivering to teammates with some level of precision.
The key has been the easing of knee tendonitis that has allowed an elite junior runner the chance to return to that level of fitness.
He might yet be beaten by Bachar Houli or perhaps Brett Deledio.
But finally he has the football to match the mouthpiece as a worthy spruiker of charities and social causes.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/daniel-jackson-nick-riewoldt-among-likely-afl-best-and-fairest-winners/story-fni5f08l-1226680363532
