Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
- Windy_Hill
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Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
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?
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?
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
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.
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.
Essendunny
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
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.
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
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Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
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.
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
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Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
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.
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.
Aaron Francis is the Messiah.
- Windy_Hill
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Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
j-mac31 wrote: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
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Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
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.
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.
Aaron Francis is the Messiah.
- Windy_Hill
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Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
Fair commentj-mac31 wrote: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.
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
better than lovett-murray
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
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.
The Supercoach thing is just about how many points he scores in the game, not about how good a player he will be.
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
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.
David Myers has more upside than Melksham in my view.
Like sand through the hour glass, so are the days at the Essendon Football Club.
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
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.
I think he can definately make an impact on games but needs to do it for more quarters in more games.
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
EVERY club has wasted picks. What makes me laugh every time is that we think we're the worst.Windy_Hill wrote:You want to talk about wasted picks - we have some doozies
You couldn't fool your own mother on the foolingest day of your life with an electrified fooling machine.
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
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!
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!
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
Did you even watch the game's on Sunday?Choppy wrote:Um hello...body of a 15 year old,
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
It's pretty hard to take you seriously when you write crap like thatChoppy wrote: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!
"You can quote me on this... He is gawn" - bomberdonnie re Hurley's contract status 25 February 2012
- Windy_Hill
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Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
Choppy wrote: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
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
I'll take Melksham over Lewis Jetta each and every day of the week.j-mac31 wrote: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 can't even figure out why you've made the comparison.
"You can quote me on this... He is gawn" - bomberdonnie re Hurley's contract status 25 February 2012
Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
This.swoodley wrote:I'll take Melksham over Lewis Jetta each and every day of the week.j-mac31 wrote: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 can't even figure out why you've made the comparison.
- bomberdonnie
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Re: Jake Melksham - the Next Big Thing
Melksham has a lot more upside than Myers and Jetta
That is all
That is all