James POLKINGHORNE

2016 Digest:   Former Lion spent last year in Bombers’ VFL team and was a consistent ball-winner. Hoping to re-ignite his career as a top up.

2016 NAB Cup:   Slight nick to calf muscle meant he missed all three NAB Challenge games. Now getting close to return.

2016 Season

Played for : Essendon

1		Rested.
2		Calf.
3	VFL	First game for year after calf injury and quiet. Will be better for the run.	–
4	VFL	Returned from a calf problem to gather 21 disposals. Handy effort.	–
5	VFL	Rated as Bombers’ bets with a workhorse performance in the midfield.	–
6	Carl	Hardly sighted. Like he did at Brisbane just doesn’t win enough of the ball.	3
7	Syd	Struggled to make any real impact, collecting just 12 possessions.	2
8	NM	Quiet start then worked into the game. Ten of 17 disposals gathered in second half.	5
9	StK	Minimal impact. Just nine touches for the day.	3
10		Senior emergency.
11		Bye.
12	VFL	Huge game highlighted by eight inside-50s and 14 contested possessions.	–
13	VFL	Six clearances, four inside-50s and six tackles. Won plenty of the ball.	–
14	VFL	Bye.	–
15	VFL	Won plenty of ball and had 11 clearances and five tackles. Handy performance.	–
16	VFL	Had 14 contested possessions, seven clearances to play a prominent role in win.	–
17	VFL	Won plenty of pill and led the team with nine inside-50s. Four tackles.	–
18	VFL	Led team in disposals, clearances and inside-50s so did all he could.	–
19	Adel	Played well within the 50-metre arcs, a consistent ball winner.	6
20	Geel	Only three of his 15 possessions were kicks. One tackle and no inside-50s.	3
21	GCS	Did his bit in patches but not overly influential.	4
22	VFL	Had it 22 times, kicked a goal and laid three tackles. Did his bit.	–
23	VFL	Five inside-50s and two goals from 19 disposals. Bobbed up at times.	–

2014 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1		Senior emergency.
2		Knee.
3	NEAFL	Provided some good run and carry.	–
4	NEAFL	Played back and through middle. 20 touches.	–
5	NEAFL	One of the best afield. Attacked hard and won a lot of his own ball.	–
6	StK	Not prominent.	3
7	Syd	Struggled to get into the game.	4
8	NEAFL	Kicked a couple of goals and generally tried hard.	–
9	NEAFL	Up and down throughout the night as a forward and midfielder.	–
10	NEAFL	Bye.	–
11	NEAFL	Started forward and played as an inside midfielder. OK.	–
12		Senior emergency.
13	NEAFL	Didn’t have a big influence on the game in midfield.	–
14	NEAFL	Bye.	–
15		Ankle.
16		Ankle.
17	NEAFL	In and out of the game and his disposal let him down.	–
18	NEAFL	Not a big influence on the game but better than last week.	–
19	NEAFL	Was tagged and didn’t have an influence.	–
20	NEAFL	Played forward/mid and had an influence on the game.	–
21		Ankle.
22		Ankle.
23		Ankle.
QF		–
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1	WB	Hardly seen across four quarters.	7
2	Adel	Kicked an early goal but then faded out of the match.	4
3	GCS	Had an impact when he was subbed on. Kicked a goal.	4
4	NEAFL	Best on ground. 38 touches and a goal.	–
5	Melb	Slow start but started to rack up big numbers late. On report for a trip.	7
6	Syd	Worked hard throughout to try and help turn the tide in the middle.	7
7	WCE	Threw himself in. Wasn’t efficient but got his hands on the ball.	5
8	Ess	One of his better games for the club. Kicked a goal and work-rate huge.	7
9	Carl	Showed an occasional burst of brilliance.	5
10	Coll	Not in it early and bobbed up only a couple of times.	2
12	NEAFL	Kicked three goals and had 21 touches. Did well.	–
13	NEAFL	Quiet, after huge game last week.	–
14	Haw	Didn't see much of the ball.	3
15	NEAFL	Great attitude after being dropped, looked dangerous.	–
16	NM	Just three touches. Enough said.	3
17	NEAFL	Played the first half before rested as senior emergency.	–
18	NEAFL	Bye.	–
19	NEAFL	Looked lively with 23 disposals in midfield.	–
20	NEAFL	Rivalled McGrath for best afield honors with 37 touches.	–
21	NEAFL	Another classy game with 27 touches, two goals	–
22	NEAFL	Bye.	–
23		Rested.
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1	Melb	Opportunistic goal in second term and ended day with three. Handy.	7
2	Carl	One of the better midfielders with his grunt. Needs to win more ball.	6
3	Frem	Battled hard in tight. Tackled well.	5
6	Ess	Battled hard but was one of many midfielders to lower their colours.	5
7	Coll	Another who struggled against the Magpie midfield.	4
8	GWS	Never really got into the game despite it being a one-sided affair.	4
9	NM	Won ball early then tailed off.	4
10	WCE	Kicked match winning goal with 65m torpedo. Stood up when it counted.	7
12	Haw	Didn’t do much to catch the eye.	4
13	WB	What he does has a touch of polish but if only he could find more of the ball.	5
14	Melb	Worked hard and applied good pressure to got with his 17 touches.	5
15	Syd	Yet another Lion who struggled to find a teammate when in possession.	2
16	StK	Did a few things but not prominent.	4
17	GCS	Kicked a goal and was lively.	5
18	WCE	Persisted and won the ball at both ends under pressure.	5
19	Rich	Kept up his possession average but had little impact.	4
20	Carl	What he did was OK but as always didn’t get enough of it.	4
21	Adel	Pass mark for the game but not much more.	5
22	Port	Clever tap set up Zorko for the sealing goal in the last term.	4
23	WB	No real impact.	5