North Melbourne defender Jackson Archer suffers torn ACL injury at training

North Melbourne defender Jackson Archer will miss the 2026 season after tearing his ACL over the weekend.

The 23-year-old has had a horrid run with injuries, missing most of 2025 with hamstring and ankle issues.

Archer has played 26 games for the Roos since being selected under the father-son rule in 2021.

Jackson Archer of the Kangaroos. Getty

He is the son of Kangaroos legend Glenn Archer, who played 311 games for the club, including the 1996 and 1999 premierships.

Jackson Archer had a promising 2024 season playing as a lockdown defender, but has struggled to get his body right since.

The Roos have confirmed the injury occurred during the club’s return to training in the new year.

“The club will continue to support Archer as he meets with the medical team this week to work through his rehab program,” a club statement read.

Given the timing of the injury, North Melbourne will now have the chance to put him on their inactive list.

This will allow them to add a player via the supplemental selection period before the start of the season.

They could also hold onto the list spot until the mid-season draft if they wanted.

North Melbourne will be hoping to push up the ladder in 2026, after spending the entire 2020s out of the finals race so far.