In a big blow to the Demons aspirations of a third straight Riverina League flag, Jackson left Wagga on Thursday bound for a move back to Queensland.

Jackson was one of the first players to re-sign at Collingullie in September but he informed the club at the time about a potential move back to Queensland.

The 25-year-old has since secured employment in Brisbane and is likely to link with Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL) club Mt Gravatt, pending a clearance from the Demons.

Jackson said a desire to be closer to family was behind the move.

“I’m going up there for work,” Jackson said.

“I got a decent job up there and it’s closer to family which is up there.

“I’ll probably go and play at Mt Gravatt, they’ve called me the last couple of years.”

Jackson arrived at Crossroads Oval just in time for the start of the 2013 season from Toowoomba.

He played 49 senior games for the Demons and leaves with two premierships.

His two best games for the club were arguably in both grand final victories and he was awarded the Ron Hutchins Medal for best-on-ground in this year’s decider.

Jackson said it was not an easy decision to leave.

“It was a hard decision especially after winning two flags and I could have gone for the three-peat,” he said.

“But I told them when I re-signed that I wasn’t positive about what I was doing...and the club took it pretty well when I told them I was leaving, as well as they could have anyway.”

Jackson said he had a great time during his three seasons at the club.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” he said.

“I was here for three years and won two premierships so you’ve got to be happy with that.

“I’m pretty proud of what I’ve done.

“I hope they can find another good big man.”

Jackson’s departure leaves the Demons without a designated ruckman and he had the ability to ruck the majority of minutes in games.

The reigning premiers have lost Jackson, Brad Aiken, Matt Kennedy and Jack Turnbull from this year’s premiership team.

But they have added promising Hume League pair Tom Keogh from Holbrook and Osborne teenager Matt Klemke.

The Demons open next season with a grand final rematch against Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes at Crossroads Oval.

They then have the bye round two before three big games against Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong, Coolamon and Griffith before the representative bye on May 21.