Jackson would do his best impression of the former world champion boxer by striking a few boxing poses. The ruse never failed to get a laugh.

Unfortunately, Jackson can no longer use this line. Rose - a mate of Jackson’s and a co-crusader in Aboriginal affairs - died from heart problems on Sunday, May 8. He was 62, four years Jackson’s junior.

Jackson spoke to the AFL Record the day after Rose’s death. He was still in shock after receiving the terrible news via a phone call the previous night.

“I can’t believe it,” Jackson says in his generally quiet, understated way. “I was planning to see him soon. It’s a terrible loss.”

Jackson “had plenty to do with” Rose, personally and professionally.

For many years, they both fought for greater opportunities for indigenous sportspeople as board members of the National Aboriginal Sports Foundation (among many other roles).

“It’s very sad, not only for me, but for indigenous people and Australia,” says Jackson, who attended the state funeral afforded Rose last Monday.

Until recent times, Jackson was also mistaken for another Aboriginal legend. A man once asked him for an autograph, adding, “You were a champion, Maurice.” Of course, the man believed Jackson to be the now late Richmond star Maurice Rioli, who suffered a fatal heart attack on Christmas Day last year.

Jackson also did a lot of community work with Rioli, who was a long-time politician in the Northern Territory.

“We’re losing some of our sporting legends, and our best community leaders and role models, who gave a lot of Aboriginal kids hope and aspirations,” Jackson laments.

Jackson is such an individual himself. Touch wood, he has a full bill of health. He’s still at his playing weight of 73kg. Very few former footballers at any level could make the same boast. He attributes it to playing regular rounds of golf. His handicap was once as low as three, before steadying at five. (“My motivation for that was that it was my jumper number.”) He now plays off nine.

“I think I’ve got a few years left in me yet,” he says.

Rose, Rioli and Jackson hailed from different corners of Australia: Rose was from Jackson’s Track in West Gippsland (south-eastern Victoria), Rioli the far-north Tiwi Islands, and Jackson the south-west of Western Australia. Each ascended to greatness from harsh circumstances. In some ways, Jackson had the toughest upbringing.

Read the full story in the round nine edition of the AFL Record, available at all matches.