Jackson McLachlan is making a splash at VFL level in 2019.

After 12 promising games in 2018, the small forward has taken his game to another level this season.

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An impactful small forward, McLachlan had initially found his place in the side when the AFL list was cut down by injury, but this season, he is one of the first names picked every week.

With the club boasting a fairly healthy list, spots are harder to come by this year for VFL listed players, but McLachlan is making the most of every chance he gets.

Averaging 18 disposals and four tackles over eight games, McLachlan has been named best afield twice and has claimed a place in the VFL Cats’ best players on four occasions.

He lit up GMHBA Stadium with 25 disposals, three goals and eight tackles in round eight and has been riding that confidence over the past month.

His performance in last Saturday’s win over Frankston was almost as impressive as he racked up 21 disposals, 18 by foot, and five tackles.

McLachlan also tallied a game-high 10 score involvements and his fantastic running goal late in the game capped off what was a great outing for the 21-year-old.

VFL Coach Shane O’Bree was full of praise for McLachlan after the game.

“Jacko is going along nicely, he went in the midfield and just impacts now, once he starts believing he is good enough to take them on, pick the gaps and use his assets, he finishes his work off,” O’Bree said.

“He is heading in the right direction Jacko, keep doing the work and getting those opportunities.”

The coach is a big believer that McLachlan can keep getting better if he continues to ride the confidence after each strong performance.

“It’s like all the young players playing AFL or VFL, the more you do it against men in a consistent team, you gain a lot of confidence from it,” he said.

“Jacko is in the same bracket as all of our first year (AFL) players.

“We want him breaking tackles and taking the game on, that’s his strength.” 

The creative forward is a two-time premiership player with GFL powerhouse St. Joseph’s but will be hoping to continue his run of games in the blue and white hoops throughout the rest of the VFL season.