Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing

[Windy_Hill]

According to the Herald Sun Supercoach Team he is amongst a group of young AFL players likely to do big things in season 2012.

I like Jake and think he has got some real potential. My concerns remain his slight frame (even after a big pre-season he still has the build of a 15 yr old), poor acceleration over the first 10m, he's no greyhound and his somewhat poor disposal. I seem to recall a lot of "panicky" disposals in 2011 (could this be his lack of real pace forcing him to hurry his kicks)

Am I being too harsh on the lad?

[BenDoolan]

No, that's about right except the "panicky" bit IMO.

His plusses are;
he plays with a lot of courage and a bit of mongrel
can take a good grab and get in the right spots / find space
is mostly cool and calm in a crisis

His negatives are;
slow on the rebound / his opponent leaves him for dead (poor defensively)
has too many quietish games (will be more consistent as he matures)
is easily brushed aside in most contested situations

I don't know if he'll ever reach the label of "the next big thing". I think he could end up a very good consistent footballer and that is it.

Monfries came along and had some impressive games (especially 2006). He was touted the "next big thing" back then but nothing ever eventuated to the such. He has just become no more than a footballer who has a few sprinklings of flashy games.

[Gimps]

One game last year did it for me. It showed me his true fibre. It was that drawn game against Carl c****.

He was dead on his feet (as were others) half way through the 3rd quarter. But he kept running, and doing everything with extreme desperation. You could see the look on his face, he was in agony. But you could also see that he was fighting to the death for his team.

He'll improve again this year, but think next year and the year after is when we'll see his best. He might not become a superstar, but he will be a very good footballer.

[little_ripper]

Melk gives his all, but he is no A grader.

I'll be pleasantly surprised if he gets a BOG this year.

if he gets more than one, I will eat my words.

[j-mac31]

I think he could be good, but probably not great.

He reminds me a little of Pendelbury in build and the way he moves, it would be great if he could close to be as good.

We could have had Fyfe or Lewis Jetta with that pick.

[Windy_Hill]

I think he could be good, but probably not great.

He reminds me a little of Pendelbury in build and the way he moves, it would be great if he could close to be as good.

We could have had Fyfe or Lewis Jetta with that pick.

To be honest, this is not a wasted pick - Melks will be a valuable player and certainly nothing Jetta has done so far suggests he will be significantly better (Fyfe however is good'un)

You want to talk about wasted picks - we have some doozies

[j-mac31]

I didn't say it was a wasted pick.

But where we were at the time, I think we needed a really good player with pick 10. There may have been a few players picked after Melksham who currently project to be better.

Don't get me wrong, I am a fan.

[Windy_Hill]

I didn't say it was a wasted pick.

But where we were at the time, I think we needed a really good player with pick 10. There may have been a few players picked after Melksham who currently project to be better.

Don't get me wrong, I am a fan.

Fair comment

[watsongun]

better than lovett-murray

[robrulz5]

While he won't be a superstar he is the kind of player we need, he is tough and works his arse off. Hopefully he can continue to improve each year.

The Supercoach thing is just about how many points he scores in the game, not about how good a player he will be.

[gringo]

Melksham is an honest plodder. You need blokes like him on the list, but they need to be your 13th-22nd guy picked.

David Myers has more upside than Melksham in my view.

[Sismis]

He is like so many on our list, with too big a gap between best and worst. He is a good kick, his delivery into forward 50 is excellent.

I think he can definately make an impact on games but needs to do it for more quarters in more games.

[Ossie]

You want to talk about wasted picks - we have some doozies

EVERY club has wasted picks. What makes me laugh every time is that we think we're the worst.

[Choppy]

Um hello...body of a 15 year old, panicky, poor disposal and slow...please explain how this equates to being the Next Big Thing...you are deluded Windy!

Seriously Jake Melksham will be lucky to avoid being delisted at years end...having said that, if they have kept Slattery for 6 years then Melksham might be safe!

[robrulz5]

Um hello...body of a 15 year old,

Did you even watch the game's on Sunday?

[swoodley]

Um hello...body of a 15 year old, panicky, poor disposal and slow...please explain how this equates to being the Next Big Thing...you are deluded Windy!

Seriously Jake Melksham will be lucky to avoid being delisted at years end...having said that, if they have kept Slattery for 6 years then Melksham might be safe!

It's pretty hard to take you seriously when you write crap like that

[Windy_Hill]

Um hello...body of a 15 year old, panicky, poor disposal and slow...please explain how this equates to being the Next Big Thing...you are deluded Windy!

Hey Choppy as this forum contains posted comments, you can always go back and re-read. I highly recommend that in this case you do exactly that

[swoodley]

I think he could be good, but probably not great.

He reminds me a little of Pendelbury in build and the way he moves, it would be great if he could close to be as good.

We could have had Fyfe or Lewis Jetta with that pick.

I'll take Melksham over Lewis Jetta each and every day of the week.

I can't even figure out why you've made the comparison.

[Gimps]

I think he could be good, but probably not great.

He reminds me a little of Pendelbury in build and the way he moves, it would be great if he could close to be as good.

We could have had Fyfe or Lewis Jetta with that pick.

I'll take Melksham over Lewis Jetta each and every day of the week.

I can't even figure out why you've made the comparison.

This.

[bomberdonnie]

Melksham has a lot more upside than Myers and Jetta

That is all