Career
Originally from Woodville-West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), Jacobs was selected by Carlton with pick #1 in the 2006 Rookie Draft and was traded to Adelaide following the 2012 season. Jacobs is noted as a traditional-style strong-bodied tap ruckman, less agile than many modern ruckmen, but quite effective at winning hit-outs to advantage. Carlton (2007–2010)
As a rookie-listed player, he played for Carlton"s VFL-affiliate, the Northern Bullants, for the whole 2007 and 2008 seasons.
Carlton retained Jacobs as a rookie in 2009.
Since rookie contracts are limited to two years, Carlton was forced to delist Jacobs, then redraft him, which they did with their sixth pick (#76 overall) in the 2008 Rookie Draft. Jacobs made his first appearance in Carlton colours in the 2009 National Association of Broadcasters Cup, and was made a nominated rookie for the 2009 season, making his debut in the first round.
He played only four games before succumbing to plantar fasciitis, causing him to miss most of the season. He returned from injury late in the year, finishing the season with the Northern Bullants, his ruckwork instrumental in getting the Bullants into the grand final, which they lost.
After three years as a rookie, Jacobs was promoted to the senior list at the end of the 2009 season.
He played 13 games for the Blues and 10 for the Bullants during the season, again playing in a VFL Grand Final. After 17 games for Carlton and 48 games for the Bullants over four years and with three other ruckmen on Carlton"s list, Jacobs requested to be traded back home to Adelaide. On 11 October 2010, Jacobs was traded to the Adelaide Crows in exchange for draft picks 34 and 67.
Adelaide (since 2011)
Jacobs played his first game for Adelaide in round 5, 2011, and held his place for the rest of the season, establishing himself as the club"s premier ruckman.
He ranked fifth in the league for hit-outs, averaging 32 per game. Jacobs stepped up further in 2012, leading the competition in hit-outs to advantage and narrowly missing out on All-Australian selection.
Jacobs had a quieter season in 2013 but still ranked third in the competition for hit-outs and hit-outs to advantage. In 2014 he was back to his best, leading the American Federation of Labor-Congress in hit-outs to advantage and improving his presence around the ground, having more disposals, marks and rebound 50s than any other ruckman.
He played his 100th American Federation of Labor-Congress game in round 19 against West Coast.
