ON THE day Hugh Jackson was born, his grandfather walked into the hospital with a Port Adelaide membership in his name.
So when his name was called by Port Adelaide at last week’s draft, it was a dream come true for the boy from Port Pirie, in South Australia’s mid-north.
A week on from being pick 55 in the AFL National Draft – the same number as new teammates Robbie Gray (2006) and Orazio Fantasia (2013) – being a Port Adelaide player is still sinking in.
“Obviously coming to the club you support your whole life is really exciting and everyone when they introduce you, you just have a smile on your face the whole time,” Jackson said during a press conference on Friday.
“I’m still trying to get my head around it but it’s been a week now and I’m loving it at the moment.”
Jackson admits it will take some time for it to sink in that he is now teammates with stars like Robbie Gray and Travis Boak, who joined the first to fourth year players starting pre-season training at Alberton Oval this week.
“Having those guys coming into their 16th seasons in Robbie and Trav and saying g’day to them is a bit surreal but you just say g’day and you’re onto the track with them,” Jackson said.
“Meeting (coach Ken Hinkley) was big for me because you always see him on TV but it was good to meet him.
“He’s happy that I’m from the farm so he thought it was a bit easier to talk to me but he’s a great fella, Kenny.”
While he is happy on the farm, Jackson also knows how to win the ball on the footy field, averaging 29.3 disposals per game playing with North Adelaide’s under 18 side in 2021.
He impressed Port Adelaide’s recruiters with his run and ability to hit targets on his preferred left foot.
A hip complaint late in the season slowed the blistering form the 18-year-old had at the start of the campaign and has meant a slower start to the pre-season.
He has found himself spending a fair bit of time training separately with wingman Kane Farrell, who is coming back from a knee reconstruction.
“I’ve had a few issues with high end speed and I’m thinking of surgery to just get that over and done with and be ready to go next year,” Jackson revealed.
“I’ll just get a lot of rehab in the gym to build up my core and be ready to go next year.
“It is just the pre-season so I’ll miss the majority of pre-season and maybe three or four weeks so I’ll be back out on the track in March I’d think.
“I’m just keen to get there, get my body right and get back on the track.”
And when he is out on the track, Jackson is targeting a role playing on the wing or half forward to start in.
“I do have a lot of leg speed and a smaller frame so I think more on the outside would be more my sort of role but I’m really keen to find where I fit in the team.”
