Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Olympics
Football
Netball
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMFull circle: Narrative could not be more fitting for Melksham
Brendan Rhodes • April 11th, 2026 12:30 pm
It is a milestone that some may have thought may not come when Melbourne veteran Jake Melksham started this season running around in the VFL for the Casey Demons.
But Melksham’s resilience and determination have never been in question, and despite being 34 as the Demons build a new gameplan around youth and breakneck speed, it hasn’t taken him long to force his way into new coach Steven King’s team.
And after starring against Gold Coast last week with five marks, four goals and a turn-back-the-clock screamer, his career comes full circle when he plays his 250th AFL match – fittingly against his former club Essendon at Gather Round.
Drafted at No. 12 by the Bombers in 2009, Melksham showed early promise as a composed midfielder with a strong workrate, winning a Rising Star nomination in 2010 before finishing fifth in the Crichton Medal in 2013 and ninth in 2015, but decided to head to Melbourne at the end of that year after 114 games.
That was at the height of the Bombers’ supplement scandal and he ended up being one of the ‘Essendon 34’ who had to sit out the 2016 season, but he bounced back and reinvented himself as a clever, high-impact forward, finishing seventh in the ‘Bluey’ Truscott Trophy in 2018.
His football intelligence and ability to perform in big moments made him a valuable part of the Demons’ structure, particularly during their rise to premiership contention, although he was the first emergency on the historic night in Perth, getting his premiership medal at VFL level with Casey the following year.
Despite having had his best season in almost a decade last year with a career-best 33 goals after recovering from a knee reconstruction, Melksham found himself on the outer last month but found his way back in against the Suns and reminded selectors of his value as a goalkicker and connector in attack.
It wasn’t just the numbers that stood out, it was his presence.
He looked sharp, confident and fully in sync with Melbourne’s system, and now, with his 250th game looming, the narrative couldn’t be more fitting.
Facing Essendon adds an emotional layer to an already significant occasion and Gather Round provides the perfect stage with its festival atmosphere.
For Melksham, this milestone is less about personal accolades and more about perseverance.
His journey reflects the reality of AFL careers: rarely linear, often challenging, but ultimately defined by how players respond to adversity.
His journey reflects the reality of AFL careers: rarely linear, often challenging, but ultimately defined by how players respond to adversity.
