FIRST-YEAR Portland co-captain Daniel Jackson knows exactly what he wants to achieve in his next 100 games with the club.
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The 23-year-old, who will suit up for his 100th senior appearance against Warrnambool on Saturday, is eager to lead the next generation of Tigers to the club's first appearance in the September action since joining the Hampden league in 2013.
"I'd love to play another 100 games and play in our first finals series," he said.
"There is the big push get into the finals and we are going the right way. We have just got to keep a few young blokes around because there is talent in town and I can't see why we can't make it in a couple of years."
The Portland Laser Cutting employee, who co-leads the Tigers alongside Rhys Egan, made his senior debut under former coach Jarrod Holt as a 16-year-old in 2013.
He would play three games that year before playing 16 the following season and all 18 in the past four years.
Back in 2013 Jackson finished runner-up in the under 18.5s best and fairest, finishing just behind current St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall.
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Current senior coach Tom Sharp is a big fan of his side's co-leader.
"He has been in red-hot form across the onball and back lines and his work rate and the amount of time he puts into his footy is huge," he said.
"He is always improving and always wanting to get better and he works hard off the track. It's good to see him go from strength to strength, from year to year and he has a lot more footy left in him."
Jackson's favourite moment across his first 100 appearances in yellow and black was a game that meant a lot to a teammate who helped shape him into the player he is today.
"The highlight for me would be when Jaron Quinlivan played his 400th game. It was a massive day for the club," he said.
"He was a big influence on me. I remember when I was preparing to play my first game I got changed next to him and he helped settle the nerves, which was great."
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Jackson has enjoyed stepping up as a leader within the Tigers' ranks.
"It's a bit different to what I have been use to as I have to think more team before the game and how I can get them pumped up because it's not just about me anymore," he said.
"Footy is a team game and it (the captaincy) gets you thinking a bit about what you can do for them.
"I have had leadership roles in football that I have taken it on in the past. This year I would probably be one of the eighth oldest players in the team as we have got a young list.
"So hopefully I can be someone that the others look up to and what to be like."
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
