Dean debuted in August, 2004 as Luke Morgan on McLeod's Daughters, the top-rated Australian drama that is syndicated around the world. Luke is an auto mechanic who meets ranch hand Jodi Fountain on the very day he gets a job at Terry's truck stop, and the instant attraction is mutual. Little is known of Luke and his brother Kane's shady past, but after Kane leaves town at the end of season 4, Luke remains in Gungellan. As season 5 begins, Luke seems to be trying to turn over a new leaf, but he gets involved in illegal drag racing and worse trouble, threatening more than his relationship with Jodi.

McLeod's Daughters is the story of two half-sisters who inherit their father's cattle station in South Australia. Claire grew up at Drover's Run, but her sister Tess lived in the city with her mother. Brought together again after 20 years, they rediscover each other as they begin working together to make a go of the station. Drover's Run housekeeper Meg Fountain and her daughter Jodi pitched in and Claire's old friend Stevie Hall, a former rodeo rider, was hired on as station manager. The Ryan brothers, Alex and Nick, from the neighboring station Killarney complicate the lives of the women at Drover's Run in more ways than one.

During season 5, Luke and Jodi's relationship developed quickly, but was cut off suddenly when he was arrested for violating his parole by getting involved with drug dealers. Newlyweds Tess and Nick left Drover's Run in Stevie's charge when they went to South America for two months, but by the end of season, a pregnant Tess had returned to Drover's Run. However, Nick was feared dead in a plane crash in Argentina and Luke Morgan remained in jail.

            
McLeod's Daughters screen caps by Heletia, used with permission

            
Little White Lies screen caps by Heletia, used with permission

Little White Lies (February 16): Luke gets a speeding ticket in Kate's car, but can't admit he was driving because he's on probation. Kate and Stevie are both getting fed up with Jodi's affair with Luke. Jodi masterminds a fashion show for the Wool Board meeting. Meanwhile, Nick decides to move out of Drover's Run to give himself time to think about what to do about baby Harrison.

            
Rules of Disengagement caps by Heletia, used with permission

Rules of Dis-Engagement (February 23): Luke gets into drag racing- can trouble be far behind? When he's hurt during practice and her $500 is on the line, Jodi volunteers to drive in his place. Meg Fountain returns to Drover's Run to support Tess, but she is not too pleased with Luke's influence on her daughter. Meanwhile, Terry is caught in the middle. Kate and Stevie's plan to help Tess and Nick reconcile is ruined when Sally and the baby show up unexpectedly at the truck stop.

            
Once Were Heroes caps by Heletia, used with permission

Once Were Heroes (March 2): Luke wants a drag race rematch and is willing to bet his car on the outcome. Jodi thinks the stakes are too high, and when she tries to prevent the race, Luke tells her to keep out of his business. Stevie fires Jodi for spending too much time away from work. Meanwhile, Dave finds neglected horses that he thinks might be Walers, animals descended from early Australian stock, and he recruits Alex, Stevie, and Kate in a rescue mission. Nick and Tess are still at odds over Sally and baby Hasrrison.

                
Return of the Black Queen caps by Heletia, used with permission

Return of the Black Queen (March 9): Jodi and Stevie are both too proud to reconcile their differences. Jodi hangs around the truck stop distracting Luke and Terry from their work while the reduced staff at Drovers is working overtime. Finally, Stevie agrees to a billiards match against Kate, with hiring Jodi back as her wager. Meanwhile, Sandra returns to town and plays Jeremy Quaid against Harry, Tess is down with chicken pox, and Nick becomes Mr. Mom to Harrison while Sally is in the hospital.

                
Do You Read Me ... ? caps by Heletia, used with permission

Do You Read Me ... ? (March 16): When Luke's drag racing rival challenges him to a contest wagering Luke's car against a date with Jodi, Luke and Jodi realize how important they are to each other. Meanwhile, Stevie gets involved with a mystery man she talks to on the radio while she is laid up with a foot injury.

                
Taking Care of Business caps by Heletia, used with permission

Taking Care of Business (April 6). Luke and Meg get to know each other better when they have to drive to Fisher together. She sees him help some friends get out of trouble and later he and the guys join her protest to prevent the felling of a century-old tree. Meanwhile, Jodi tries to sell cosmetics door-to-door and Kate goes to work for Sandra.

                
Old Flames caps by Heletia, used with permission

Old Flames (April 13). When Jodi and Kate's old boarding school classmates gather for a reunion, Jodi doesn't admit that lowly auto mechanic Luke is her boyfriend. But later, after she discovers that her old nemesis's apparently perfect life is not really all that wonderful, she realizes that her own life, including Luke, is pretty good after all. Meanwhile, Sally and baby Harrison depart for Melbourne and Nick moves back to Drovers Run.

                
Body Blows caps by Heletia, used with permission

Body Blows (April 20). Jodi agrees to show Alex's bull at the Agricultural Show, and gets varying advice from Kate and Luke on how to put her best foot forward in the show ring. Meg's campaign that Gungellan get more rail service threatens local business, including Terry's truck stop. Meanwhile, the Ryan family has other issues to settle among themselves after Harry is taken ill. Who is the mysterious stranger he encounters on the road? Is she real or just a hallucination brought on by a stroke?

                
Sins of the Father caps by Heletia, used with permission

Sins of the Father (April 27). Harry's ill health continues to affect his family and friends. Nick must face the truth about his own health and Alex fights Sandra for control of Killarney. Meanwhile, Luke finds the Drovers women's missing lottery ticket, and sneaks it back into the house for them to find. It's worth $10,000, and they all have plans for the money, until the ticket is lost again.

                
Boy Made Good caps by Heletia, used with permission

Boy Made Good (May 4). Luke pledges $2000 of the truckstop's money to a community reception for a visiting developer. Now he has to get the money back. On his way to deliver hot merchandise, Luke saves Dave from a burning car, but has to leave before the ambulance arrives. Jodi becomes suspicious when he can't account for his actions. Meanwhile, Stevie meets her old love, Rose's father, who is the advance man for the developer ... or is he? Tess's protest against the developer takes a strange turn.

The Pearl (May 11). Luke gets in ever deeper trouble, caught between drug smugglers who want him to drive for them and the police. When Jodi discovers drugs he is supposed to deliver, the lovers make a decision to leave Gungellan. On her way to meet Luke, Jodi is shocked to find emergency crews removing a body from his wrecked car. Her relief at finding him alive is short lived, however, when he admits he's been arrested for his part in the drug deal. (This was Luke's last appearance in season 5.)

The Prodigal Daughter (May 18). Luke has been sentenced to two years in prison for his part in the drug deal. On the way to show Alex's bull at a show, Jodi wants to stop and visit him in jail, but Kate talks her out of it. Meanwhile, Alex tries to help Nick face the risks of becoming a father and Tess's cousin Regan McLeod arrives at Drover's Run, creating instant conflict with everyone there. When Stevie tries to help Regan get her car out of the mud at the far reaches of Drovers she gets wedged under the car and Regan must overcome her fear of horses to ride for help.

            
McLeod's Daughters caps by Heletia, used with permission

Compiled from IMDb, Channel Nine, TV Week, fans-of-mcleods.com, and the Australian Television Information Archive. Special thanks to Heletia at McLeod's-Series4onwards for news and screen caps.

CAST

Bridie Carter : Tess McLeod Ryan
Simmone Jade Mackinnon : Stevie Hall
Rachael Carpani : Jodi Fountain
Michala Banas : Kate Manfredi
Aaron Jeffery : Alex Ryan
Myles Pollard : Nick Ryan
Brett Tucker : Dave Brewer
Marshall Napier : Harry Ryan
Inge Hornstra : Sandra Kinsella
John Jarratt : Terry Dodge
Dean O'Gorman : Luke Morgan

CREW

Executive Producer : Susan Bower
Creator : Posie Graeme-Evans
Supervising Producer : Karl Zwicky
Associate Producer : Vikki Barr
Production Executive : Andrew Blaxland, Millennium Television
Network Script Executive : Jo Horsburgh
Script Producers : Sarah Smith and Alexa Wyatt
Writer (No Man's Land) : Chris McCourt
Writer (Little White Lies) : Rick Held
Writer (Rules of Disengagement) : Kym Goldsworthy
Writer (Once Were Heroes) : Denise Morgan
Writer (Return of the Black Queen) : Sarah Smith
Writer (Do You Read Me ... ?) : Meg Mappin
Writer (Taking Care of Business) : Sally Webb
Writer (Old Flames) : Hadass Segal
Writer (Body Blows) : Kym Goldsworthy
Writer (Sins of the Father) : Chris McCourt
Writer (Boy Made Good): Denise Morgan
Writer (The Pearl): Giula Sandler
Director of Photography : Roger Dowling
Production Designer : Tony Cronin
Composer : Alastair Ford
Master Animal Wrangler : Bill Willoughby

PRODUCTION COMPANIES

Millennium Television, Nine Films & Television, and Foxtel