Victorian cricketer Tommy Jackson on strong bond with nine-year-old brother

Jackson, 19, moved from Warrnambool to Geelong to pursue a professional sporting career almost four years ago.

Charlie, who turned nine last week, remained in the south-west.

But the tyranny of distance has only made the brothers' bond stronger.

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"I moved away when he first started prep at school. It was kind of hard," Jackson told The Standard this week.

"I try and be a father figure to him a bit. I love it.

"The (Geelong) home games he always comes down and I will be sitting in the dug out and he'll just be sitting next to me pestering me all day.

"He is pretty close to me. It is a different bond to what other brothers have."

Jackson said coronavirus restrictions had limited visits to Warrnambool this year.

"It's a bit challenging at the moment because he'll Facetime and ask 'when are you coming home?'," he said.

"With the situation at the moment, because he's a bit younger, he probably doesn't understand it, so it's a bit hard. Hopefully I can get back soon and spend some time with him."

Jackson, whose older sister Emily lives in Geelong, said he enjoyed spending time with Charlie, an East Warrnambool Primary School student.

"I try and make sure he's going to be a cricketer but I am not sure if he will be," he joked.

"He's not as sporty as I was but every time I go up there or he comes up to me, I always throw him balls."

Jackson remains busy despite the pandemic restrictions.

He's two-and-half months into pre-season training with Victoria after earning a rookie contract in June.

The Bushrangers' squad has an exemption to train at St Kilda's Junction Oval amid the stage four restrictions blanketing Melbourne.

Jackson, a former Woodford cricketer, is soaking up the "surreal" experience.

"I have had some cool stuff happen, spent sometime with the big dogs," he said.

"I was having a hit the other day and Glenn Maxwell was bowling offies to me and I played a reverse sweep.

"He stayed back with me 15 minutes after training and legit just helped me non-stop with my reverse sweep.

"I just went home and was that happy. I was watching them on TV and now that sort of stuff can happen.

"For them to go out of their way and still have time for me, I appreciated that heaps."

Victoria, which is unsure of its 2020-21 schedule, is busy preparing for whatever is thrown its way.

"It's been a lot of hard work. We're on the turf which is pretty early," Jackson said.

"We're starting to get to the good stuff. I am loving it."

Jackson, who already has five Victorian Premier Cricket first XI tons to his credit, said he'd been working on his skin-folds and running technique as he strives to earn a first-class debut.

"I will see a fair bit of improvement soon with my skill stuff because I am facing top-quality bowlers in the nets," he said.

"It is challenging so hopefully it can make my game scenarios better when I play."