THE MATCH that highlighted how much Luke Jackson had grown physically this year, and what that could unlock in his game, was the round nine clash against Hawthorn.

With Sean Darcy recovering at the time from a calf injury, Jackson was adjusting to his increased workload and came up against a pair of the bigger and stronger ruckmen that he had previously been vulnerable against around the ground. 
 
What eventuated, however, was a dominant best-on-ground performance from the 24-year-old Fremantle superstar notable for its brutality in the contest and an inspiring final-quarter smother that sparked the Dockers' 'Wharfie Time' comeback.

After a highly focused off-season training with Jye Amiss, and a strength-building program under high-performance boss Adam Beard over the pre-season, Jackson had his proof that the work was going to pay dividends.

"The Hawthorn game earlier in the season was a very intense game and very physical game, and they've got two big boys there in the ruck," Jackson told AFL.com.au.

"But I just felt later in the fourth quarter that I could still run just as good as the first quarter and wrestle with their big boys, so that's probably when I noticed it the most.

"That was a big goal of mine with my body this year; to put on more size and play that ruck role where you've got to be able to wrestle with the big boys and sustain it for four quarters."

Jackson's final-quarter impact against Hawthorn pair Lloyd Meek and Ned Reeves was immense on that Thursday night, with nine disposals, three marks, five score involvements and that memorable smother.

The physical improvements that made it all possible started with his exit meeting at the end of last season when he spoke to the club about training for the entire pre-season as a ruck and midfielder so he was physically prepared for those roles.

He then went away and got to work with good friend Amiss, with the pair spending plenty of time at the club over the summer and at local ovals in Fremantle training hard along with ruck coach Sam Naismith.

The evidence of that work has been clear in Jackson's All Australian season as well as the career-best year that a more powerful Amiss has produced, kicking a team-high 58 goals and regularly outmuscling and outworking the game's best key defenders.

"We did quite a bit of training in the off-season, and then we did a lot of the gym work and the running together," Jackson said.

"I think when you're doing it with someone and you're pushing yourself with someone, it helps you perform, so I put a lot of work into that area, and I think that helped set us both up.

"Sam (Naismith) joined in as well and he's been great for me this year."

Beard took over as high-performance director at Fremantle this season and put a focus on building the players' power attributes, with Jackson regularly talking with the strength and conditioning expert about his vision for himself as an athlete.

That vision isn't complete yet, with Jackson carefully balancing his rare athletic attributes with his increased size and strength and being careful not to tip the scales too far in one direction.

"I've had thoughts about that before, and I definitely didn't want to get too big that it stops my agility or my movement around the ground," Jackson said.

"So I'm still working very closely with Beardy about what the best balance looks like. But I feel like we've come far in that space this year, and we've still got a long way to go, which is exciting.

"That [vision] is to be a big, strong man, but also be able to move like a midfielder and keep that side of my game, because I think that's probably one of my biggest strengths."

The added strength work for Jackson has been combined with an increased focus on recovery, with the Melbourne premiership player proud of the more professional approach he has had with ice baths, saunas, mobility work and stretching.

An incredibly durable player across four seasons with Fremantle, he set a goal at the start of the season to play every game and has been able to achieve that on the back of his recovery program and some in-game management late in the season.

His consistency across the year has been the thing he is most proud of in a campaign that has established him as a top-five player in the game, averaging a career-high disposals (18.3), clearances (4.9), contested possessions (11.0) and tackles (5.4).

He is a player who appears primed for the finals stage, which he will launch coincidentally at the opening centre ball-up against Hawthorn in a blockbuster qualifying final at Optus Stadium.

Stronger and more powerful himself, the ruckman believes the Dockers' physicality will be a key asset this September.

"I feel like we're in the box seat with that. Beardy's come in and he's been the main driver as soon as pre-season started," Jackson said.

"We wanted to be able to put on muscle and size, but also be better runners around the ground. So I feel like everyone is really set up for finals footy."