FORMER Portland footballer Daniel Jackson added another feather to his cap over the weekend, representing North Queensland in their match against South Queensland, with North taking out a win 11.12 (78) to 9.8 (62).

North’s representative side was made up primarily of players from the AFL Cairns league which Jackson plays in for North Cairns Tigers, with former North Warrnambool player Darcy Keast.

According to Jackson, a number of players in the side were also bought in from three other surrounding leagues, including Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton.

He said it was a great opportunity to play against some of the best footballers in the state.

“It was an awesome experience… given the size of the area they were selecting from to be recognised for my play was fantastic,” he said.

“It’s only my first season up here, so it’s great to be already on the radar.”

Jackson, who won the Hampden Football League’s highest honour last year, the Maskell Medal, said the match itself was extremely fast paced and played at a high level, despite less-than-ideal conditions.

“The surface was a bit greasy, it probably bought the standard of the game down slightly, but it was still a very fast game,” he said.

North Cairns has been a middle of the road side so far this season, sitting in fourth place out of seven teams with four wins and four losses from eight rounds.

Jackson said his sides record to this point isn’t reflective of the calibre of play the team has demonstrated throughout the season.

“It doesn’t reflect our performance… every week the entire group has come into it with the same positive attitude, and I think an extra win or two on the board at this point would be more accurate on where we’re at,” he said.

“Even against some of the most in-form sides in the competition like Port Douglas, we’ve never been blown away, and we’ve had our chances to win those games.

“I guess it gives us confidence that we can make a solid run at finals, and more importantly that what we’re doing at this club is right.

“From where this club has come from in prior seasons to where we are now, four wins from eight games is a massive achievement.”