Fremantle Dockers star Luke Jackson happy with how tall forwards are clicking after match simulation hit-out

Fremantle star Luke Jackson looms as critical for the Dockers as they prepare to start another season without chief ruck Sean Darcy. Jackson shared a forward line with powerhouse targets Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss in the Dockers’ first fully-fledged match simulation on Friday at Cockburn, with Liam Reidy leading the ruck. It is how they are expected to line up in a week’s time when they take on the Indigenous All Stars at Optus Stadium on Saturday and again in round one, with premier ruck Darcy in doubt for their trip to Geelong. Jackson — and the balance Fremantle can strike with his role — will be a key factor in the first weeks of the season as he shares ruck duties with Reidy. Darcy had more surgery this week to remove a screw in his ankle, which had become infected, just days after he returned from a four-day stint at a world-leading medical facility in Doha to fine-tune his rehabilitation from a knee injury. Dockers assistant coach Tendai Mzungu — who coached Jackson’s team in the match simulation — said both facets of his game are in good order. “I thought Dogga was really strong ahead of the ball, he gives us a difference in the ruck as well,” he said. “Dogga’s footy is growing, his leadership is growing and he is in a pretty good spot going into the season. Mzungu also described the eye-catching performances of Treacy and Amiss as “really strong” after the Dockers rolled out a first-choice forward line. Jackson said he was happy with how the group was clicking up forward. “It was the first real hit-out with us forwards on the same team,” he said. “We were able to connect together and obviously the big boys down there, JT and Jye, I love playing with them and it was good to get a first hit-out with them.” Treacy, 22, was a standout in the air and the most vocal player on the ground over 4 x 25-minute quarter workout and looks ready for another big season. Fellow key forward Amiss also sent a scare through the Fremantle camp when he suffered a heavy knock to his right knee late in the final quarter. Amiss clutched at the back of his knee and then attempted to run out the pain but hobbled off shortly after. After some treatment,t Amiss then returned to the field to finish the game and appeared untroubled. The Dockers at times had their best attack - with Treacy and Amiss the focal points - pitted against their No. 1 defence, Pearce and Josh Draper taking the two key forwards. Only Heath Chapman and Brennan Cox, who were rested, were missing from their first-choice backline.