West Australian Luke Jackson urged to consider staying in Melbourne to hunt more flags by Jordan Lewis

Jackson BarrettThe West Australian
Camera IconLuke Jackson has been urged to consider staying at Melbourne and chasing more success. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

A former Demon has urged in-demand Melbourne big man Luke Jackson to strongly consider leaving money on the table in order to stick with the club in a bid to win more premierships.

The West Australian is out of contract this year and West Coast and Fremantle are set to launch aggressive bids to try and lure him home this season, which could involve long-term deals worth more than a million dollars a season.

It is understood Jackson is still undecided on his future but has a strong group of friends in Perth and would likely accept a deal longer than five years if he was to return.

But the call to stay and continue to push for flags with the reigning premiers has come from former Hawthorn and Melbourne legend Jordan Lewis, who has four premierships of his own and says that Jackson has a “really important decision to make”.

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“It is a decision that, quite often if you haven’t got the right people around you, you can think short term,” he told Fox Footy.

“Melbourne right now is clearly in the premiership window, Luke Jackson has been a part of that, I can imagine if you are a young player you want to continue to be a part of that.

“Can you then, sacrifice a little bit of money to stay in a side that is clearly at the top echelon to play and perform?”

Camera IconLuke Jackson could be a realistic target for the Perth clubs at the end of the season. Credit: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos

Lewis also warned of the pressures of a long-term, big-money deal.

In recent years, Stephen Coniglio signed a hefty seven-year, $7m million deal at Greater Western Sydney before finding himself desperately out of form and out of the Giants’ side, despite being their captain.

Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy’s form had been indifferent this season, after he also signed a seven-year mega deal, before he suffered a significant knee injury. Now he will have to compete for his spot with emerging big man Darcy Cameron.

“If he decides to leave, goes to Fremantle on big money, then we have seen players crumble under that pressure as well,” Lewis said.

“You have got to work out all those things, but from experience and speaking to players who have been through that, is is a very had decision, but you can be rewarded if you take the lesser (money) option.

“I don’t think he would feel unrewarded if he did make the decision to stay.”

The 20-year-old beanpole now has a period of about a month to show his wares as the number one ruck at Melbourne, with Max Gawn sidelined by injury.

It is the sort of role he would likely take up if he was to be convinced by West Coast, with champion ruck Nic Naitanui in the twilight of his career.

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