Jake MELKSHAM

2017 Digest:   Itching to play all summer after year-long layoff. Will feature across half back and through midfield and is rock-hard fit.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	StK	Picked up touches but wasn't anything exceptional.	4
2	Carl	Not one contested possessions among his 22 disposals, which is a worry as he didn’t hurt Carlton enough on the outside.	5
3	Geel	Wins the ball but not super dangerous when he gets it. Two inside-50s, no clearances and six tackles.	5
4	Frem	Turned it over at key times off half back and was then thrown forward in final term where he had minimal impact. On thin ice.	3
5	Rich	Better than recent weeks, but still yet to hit any great heights at new club.	5
6	Ess	Just fair in first game against former club. No howlers this week, but didn’t hurt the Bombers either.	5
7	VFL	Reported a couple of times and played a bit angry after senior axing. Had 35 touches but wayward in front of goal with 1.4.	–
8		Suspended.
9	VFL	Used in a run-with role, but excelled with ball in hand. 34 touches, eight inside 50s and eight tackles.	–
10	GCS	His best game for the Dees. Won lots of the ball – even when others were struggling. A step in right direction.	7
11		Bye.
12	Coll	Went to Pendlebury then used up forward as a target. Better is attack – lacks nous in midfield.	4
13	WB	Went to Johannisen and worried him out of the game. 15 touches and used them mostly well too.	7
14	WCE	Had some key moments and kicked one goal.	6
15	Syd	A few fumbles hurt early on, but kept on trying and was a long way from Dees worst.	5
16	Carl	Got involved with six disposals in final term but to that point had only had five effective disposals.	4
17	Adel	Booted three first half goals and made Laird defend – which he struggled to do. Quieter second half.	6
18	Port	Iced the game with three goals in the second half when the Dees started to tire.	7
19	NM	Two smart goals in second quarter, but then wasn’t really a factor.	4
20	GWS	Jagged two final term goals but wasn’t allowed much room to move in front half.	5
21	StK	Bobbed up with his two goals once again and was also deployed across half back.	6
22	Bris	Went to Zorko after his white-hit start and put the brakes on while winning a lot of his own ball. In good form.	7
23	Coll	Just six touches in the first half, but sprung to life after main break with three goals. Great second half of the season.	7

2016 Season

1		Suspended.
2		Suspended.
3		Suspended.
4		Suspended.
5		Suspended.
6		Suspended.
7		Suspended.
8		Suspended.
9		Suspended.
10		Suspended.
11		Suspended.
12		Suspended.
13		Suspended.
14		Suspended.
16		Suspended.
17		Suspended.
18		Suspended.
19		Suspended.
20		Suspended.
21		Suspended.
22		Suspended.
23		Suspended.

2015 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	Syd	Needed strong start to season and good in contests and tackling.	7
2	Haw	Did well for a second straight week. Provided good link through midfield.	7
3	Carl	OK but certainly didn’t do enough to cement spot in the side. Four inside-50s.	5
4	Coll	Won 11 contested possessions, four inside-50s and laid four tackles.	5
5	StK	Quiet overall.	3
6	Frem	Good job on Hill. Kept him from running free.	6
7	NM	Gave away free kicks and 50-metre penalties. Rest of his game excellent.	5
8	Bris	Ok. Tried hard without producing anything special.	4
9	Rich	Started on fire but needed to use the ball better. Six clearances.	6
10	Geel	Horrible and made it worse by getting frustrated late in game.	3
11	WCE	Good tagging on Shuey early. Worked hard.	5
13	Haw	One nice running goal but didn’t win enough ball to hurt the Hawks.	5
14	StK	On Webster at start. Tried to get into game without success.	3
15	VFL	Bye.	–
16		Hamstring.
17		Hamstring.
18	WB	Horror day. No inside-50s or clearances and very few effective touches.	1
19	VFL	Worked hard throughout against the tide in midfield.	–
20	Adel	Sub. Kicked a goal and had nine disposals but game gone by time he got on.	2
21	GCS	Performed a couple of run with roles and was serviceable.	5
22	Rich	Had job on Deledio and did that well for the most part. Better effort.	6
23	Coll	Used in defence again and steady in that role. Ended year better than started it.	6

2014 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	PM	Among best in practice match whilst serving suspension.	–
2	PM	Good outing. Ready to return to senior team.	–
3	Carl	Late inclusion for Ambrose and did well with his attack on the ball.	6
4	Frem	Not his best outing but kept plugging away.	5
5	StK	Geary picked him up and contained him.	3
6	Coll	Gave all he could to grab 13 contested possessions, five clearances, five inside-50s.	7
7	WB	Inconsistent. Had his moments but also went missing for long periods.	4
8	Bris	Had a lot of handballs but not influential.	4
9	Syd	In and out of the game. Just the 14 touches.	4
11	Rich	Sub. On for Winderlich and cracked in from the start.	2
12	GWS	No significant impact.	3
13	Melb	Subbed out in final term after making some bad decisions.	3
14	Adel	Hard nosed effort. Had 17 contested possessions and kicked a goal.	8
15	Geel	Didn’t get into game at all. Zero inside-50s, zero clearances and zero goals.	3
16	Port	Not great numbers within the midfield rotations.	3
17	Coll	Rarely sighted in first half and only marginally lifted later.	2
18	VFL	Found little room to move against swarming Dogs outfit.	–
19	VFL	Two goals and 19 touches to press claims for recall.	–
20	Rich	Handy with two goals, three inside-50s, seven marks and strong work ethic.	6
21	WCE	Well down on form and subbed off.	2
22		Senior emergency.
23		Senior emergency.
QF		–
EF		–
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	Adel	Slow start but then came into it and played his part.	6
2	Melb	One of the few Bombers to genuinely join in on the rampage.	5
3	Frem	Handy game without starring.	5
4	StK	Accumulated plenty of touches	6
5	VFL	Broke the shackles of a tight tag to be good contributor.	–
6	GWS	Ran with Ward and did a reasonable job with 17 possessions.	6
7	Geel	Disposal efficiency not where it needs to be but never gave up – six inside-50s.	6
8	Bris	Only six disposals after half time after reasonable first half.	5
9	Rich	Sub. Came on for Hurley and kicked an important goal.	4
10	Syd	Did a good stopping job on Jetta early. Kept working hard.	5
11	Carl	Matched with McLean. Excellent game.	7
12	GCS	Involved in a huge collision with Lynch and appeared hampered afterwards. Kicked 0.3.	4
14	WCE	Ran and worked hard all night.	7
15	Port	Ran with Hartlett and did a serviceable job finding the ball himself.	6
16	WB	Got under the guard for two goals that proved telling. Played a part.	6
17	GWS	Recovered from a big accidental Hurley hit to prove a dominant midfield presence.	8
18	Haw	Battled hard for his team – won a team-high 11 cont poss and four inside-50s.	7
19	Coll	Nullified by the Pies and while tried hard he had little influence. One goal.	5
20	WCE	Linked well through midfield and was one of the few Bombers to run out four quarters.	7
21	NM	Gave his side spark early. Treatment to foot second term. Dons’ best.	7
22	Carl	Another player who was prominent late in the game with his run and carry.	6
23	Rich	One of the few winners on the night with two goals. MRP will look at Jackson clash.	7
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	NM	Good start in the middle but then his output was limited.	6
2	Port	Disposals efficiency (59%) not great and that hurt his overall impact.	4
3	GCS	Fairly quiet night and copped a big hit in the second quarter.	3
4	Carl	Solid day but faded in and out of the game.	5
5	Coll	Only three touches in second half after average first half. Injured?	4
6	Bris	Strong performance. Made good decision and had nine inside-50s	7
7	WCE	Right at the forefront if second quarter surge.	7
8	Rich	Relatively quiet night on a wing.	3
9	GWS	Started on bench and another to have little impact, apart from a goal.	3
10	Melb	Frustrated by plenty of mistakes. One goal was his only positive.	3
11	Syd	Won 17 touches in first half but delivery wasn’t great. Then very quiet.	4
13	Frem	Won the ball in the first three terms when the game was contested.	5
14	WB	Had seven inside 50 entries, but wasn’t a big ball-winner overall.	5
15	StK	Couple of nice bursts.	4
16	Port	Kicked a great goal from inside the centre square.	5
17	Geel	Struggling for form.	3
18	Haw	Lined up on Breust. Just battled.	4
19	Adel	Did manage four clearances and four inside 50s from limited disposals.	5
20	NM	On McMillan. Took huge mark for a goal	4
21	Carl	Made errors and didn’t do enough offensively or defensively.	4
22	Rich	Sub came on early in second term. Didn’t figure.	2
23	Coll	Had to work hard on Thomas in first half. Efficiency not good.	3