Traded #17: Jake Melksham - Traded to Melbourne for pick 25

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Posts
34,705
Likes
18,586
Location
Bottom of the pack
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Arsenal
He ran out last year pretty well towards end of season.
I reckon its mainly mental
I don't know what it is. He genuinely confuses me at every turn.

He doesn't actually frustrate me that much because I'm simply perplexed by him so often. My expectations cover such a wide range that it's almost impossible for him to not meet them.
 

JD11

Premiership Player
Joined
Sep 29, 2008
Posts
3,581
Likes
3,160
Location
Reykjavík
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Detroit Red Wings
I don't know what it is. He genuinely confuses me at every turn.

He doesn't actually frustrate me that much because I'm simply perplexed by him so often. My expectations cover such a wide range that it's almost impossible for him to not meet them.
So much this. You could never say that Jake was not a unique player.
 

Coldacre

Premiership Player
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Posts
3,496
Likes
2,534
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Melbourne Storm
he's an absolute dud.

even if we go and win this game somehow, his deplorable football at the beginning of games should not go un remembered
 

Vander18

Club Legend
Joined
Apr 22, 2011
Posts
2,269
Likes
2,716
AFL Club
Essendon
He's an absolute enigma...has everything to be a good-very good player so clearly it's all about what's going on in his head. Hird got something out of him last year but Bomber unable to so far....was woeful today.

What do people hear about him? I.e Good bloke but sensitive, head up his arse tosser etc, etc.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

blitzer

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Posts
5,869
Likes
6,168
Location
House
AFL Club
Essendon
I think he will come good but i doubt it will be this year. I would definitely drop him for one of the in-form vfl guys eg O'brien or Jetta. I also don't think the forward role suits him too well. He's a bit like Myers playing in defense - sure he can play in that region of the ground but he's not great at it. Also we brought him in off mediocre form in the VFL - i think he had about 19 possessions and 2 goals. That's pretty so-so for an AFL player staking his claim playing at a lower level after being dropped. I think his confidence is really down right now and that in turn is affecting his work rate.

The truth is his strength is as a genuine midfielder but he's just not ranked highly enough in our midfield ranks to get sufficient time there. I still believe though that the last 2 months of 2013 meant something re Melksham.
 

Doss

Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 1, 2011
Posts
70,960
Likes
96,343
AFL Club
Essendon
Admin #2,571
I suppose the counter point to him being brought back in off mediocre VFL form is that he was quite stiff to be dropped in the first place- he'd just kept Swan to a very mediocre game.

That can't have helped his confidence.
 

HULK HOGAN

Club Legend
Joined
Jul 18, 2007
Posts
1,531
Likes
231
Location
Epping
AFL Club
Essendon
I suppose the counter point to him being brought back in off mediocre VFL form is that he was quite stiff to be dropped in the first place- he'd just kept Swan to a very mediocre game.

That can't have helped his confidence.
Swan clearly was hampered by injury, didn't even go on the ball.
 

efcboy

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Oct 2, 2007
Posts
10,178
Likes
7,767
Location
Essendon
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Arsenal
Have to keep Melksham - he still has high potential to be a good mid/utility. His trade value is low so not worth going down that path. Persist with and I think he'll come good. As others have said his finish to 2013 was excellent.
 
Top Bottom