Geelong academy prospect Jesse Mellor on how he discovered his NGA eligibility, his father’s guidance and defining role change
Jesse Mellor was eligible as a Cats academy prospect despite living overseas for just eight months. And if it weren’t for a chance conversation at school, he may have never known. He reflects on his good fortune and spending his childhood around another AFL club.
Draft hopeful Jesse Mellor is lucky in more ways than one to be a member of Geelong’s Next Generation Academy.
Mellor’s parents are both of Australian descent – his father former Richmond assistant coach Greg Mellor – but he qualified as an NGA prospect because he was born in Bangkok.
The Geelong Falcons forward-midfielder lived in Thailand for just eight months before moving back to Adelaide, heading down to Geelong when his dad took the job with Richmond in 2011.
“Can’t really remember (Thailand). Mum and Dad were having a bit of an adventure and then came back,” Mellor told this masthead.
In another stroke of fortune, Mellor may have never discovered his ties to Geelong at all if it weren’t for a classroom coincidence.
“I’m very lucky. I was in Year 9 class and I was mucking around with a couple of mates and they couldn’t believe I was born in Bangkok,” Mellor said.
Overhearing the discussion was his St Joseph’s College Year 9 RE and sports teacher Paul Hood, who happened to be running Geelong NGA program at the time after finishing up as Geelong AFLW coach.
“He said to me, ‘Did you say you were born in Bangkok?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’,” Mellor recalled.
“And he’s like, ‘Are you serious? Don’t be taking the p--- mate’, And I’m like ‘Yeah.’
“‘Mate, you’re NGA to the Cats!’”
“May have never known (otherwise). I didn’t really know what it mean to be honest, and it’s turned out to be really helpful.”
Hood said the case of recently delisted Cat Ted Clohesy – whose mum was born in South Africa – had the NGA program on high alert for qualifications of all kinds.
“We were sort of switched on to some maybe unusual birth places for some of the students at school because Ted had similar,” Hood said.
“Players that had been in footy programs all their life but by good fortune were born overseas or had the parent born overseas, were eligible for the NGAs at that time.”
The AFL is reportedly making significant changes to NGA access next year, with eligibility to be determined on parents’ cultural backgrounds.
Subsequently Mellor and St Kilda NGA prospect Kye Fincher, who was born in Hong Kong while his mother was working there, will no longer be eligible as NGA prospecrs in the future.
Mellor hasn’t been following the robust academy debate this year, he is just thankful to receive the chance.
“I’m just taking what I can get at the moment, so pretty lucky to have that opportunity,” Mellor said.
Hood has seen Mellor’s growth first-hand at St Joseph’s College and in the NGA program, and he believes his improvement isn’t down to luck.
“Regardless of Jesse’s birthplace, he’s done a terrific job to develop his football obviously. He’s had great family support, and he’s really done really well in his time at Geelong West Giants and since he’s gone to the Falcons as well, he’s been terrific,” Hood said.
“While it’s fortunate that he was born overseas, it hasn’t really had too much of an influence on his football journey – he’s done all the work himself.
“He has worked pretty hard. When you can be young you think that talent can take you everywhere, but as Jesse’s got a little bit older, he’s realised that his talents a blessing and his hard work that he’s put in and his dedication has meant that he has really grown his game.”
MAKING HIS OWN LUCK
They say the harder you work, the luckier you get, and that’s certainly been the case for Mellor.
Finishing school last year, the Geelong West product has taken his golden opportunity with both hands.
The Cats have helped Mellor improve out of sight in 2025, finishing his eye-catching national championships with Vic Country in the under-18 All-Australian team after failing to make the cut for the Vic Country pre-season hub.
Mellor trained with the Cats during the pre-season and at times this year, uses the gym and recovery facilities at GMHBA Stadium, and picks the brain of head of Geelong’s development coaches Nigel Lappin and Mark Corrigan.
The 185cm prospect also featured for Geelong VFL later in the year, shining with two goals and 17 disposals in his second game for the Cats.
One interaction in his VFL debut with a dropped Cats goalkicker epitomised the clubs’ overwhelming support.
“Even in my first game, Ollie Henry, I remember I was playing forward and he was like, ‘Mate, do you want to go high, do you want to go deep? What do you want to do?” Mellor recalled.
“Mate, I’ll do whatever you want me to do! He was just super welcoming.
“George Stevens as well, he’s so impressive. Me, Josh (Lindsay) and Ben Rongdit come in for a week and he didn’t have to be so welcoming. But he would make us feel included, get us in the handball games and just give us the time of day.
“People like Nigel Lappin and Mark Corrigan, they come and do vision with me – and they don’t need to do that, like I’m not a part of their (program) and they take time out of their day to do that for me.”
There has been no formal commitment from Geelong ahead of the draft, and he appears set to enter calculations from the second round onwards.
He has spoken with 10 clubs across the year and was invited to the national combine earlier in the month.
DAD’S GUIDANCE
Mellor has also been blessed to have a former AFL assistant coach and West Adelaide great – where Greg played 198 SANFL games – to lean on throughout his journey.
“He’s definitely my biggest role model, he’s been huge. He’s got such a smart footy brain and he’s been in the system through all the levels,” Jesse said of his dad.
“Definitely look up to him and always look to him when I need some advice.”
Growing up in and around Richmond Football Club during Greg’s tenure — where the Tigers fan watched his favourite player Dustin Martin close up – seemed normal rather than a privilege.
Jesse and Finn would often annoy their dad in their visits into the club, including one occasion they required assistance from the Richmond coaching staff.
“One day dad was training, and I’m not sure if it was his first or second year there. And my little brother Finn, we were mucking around on the stairs and the railing,” Jesse said.
“My brother was trying to climb in the railing, got his leg stuck, so they had to call all the coaches to come and get him out. So dad was pretty embarrassed.”
Greg stepped aside at the end of this season after eight years coaching Geelong league club Geelong West, Jesse making his senior debut under him last year.
He has taught him not to take anything for granted throughout his draft year.
“He’s really realistic and he’s been through the system so expect the worst and hope for the best, that’s what I’ve been doing at the moment,” Jesse said
“He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had, probably the best coach I’ve ever had.
“He’s just he’s such an unreal mentor for me and I’m so lucky to have him in my corner. I don’t know if he’s done, I reckon he might get that itch again, but we’ll see what happens,” he added with a laugh.
New head of NGA Chris Lynch, who replaced Hood last year, has been intrinsically linked to his journey in recent years and has provided him with guidance.
“He’s probably my biggest mentor in footy. He’s been huge for me, was the year St Joeys footy coach, Year 12 Joeys coach, under-16 Falcons coach, and now he’s the head of NGA. He’s been huge for me and absolutely love him,” Mellor said.
TOUGH LOVE
Some blunt feedback last season set Mellor up for his impressive campaign as a forward.
Seeing himself as a pure midfielder, Geelong Falcons coach Paul Corrigan told it like it was to Mellor.
“I was pretty one minded coming in as a bottom-ager, you know, ‘I want to play midfield’ and he would say, ‘Mate, you’re not going to be playing for Vic Country midfield, get another avenue and learn to play another position’,” Mellor recalled.
“I took it on board because he gave him some reasons. Thought I was a good one-on-one player and a strong mark and decent option. And I feel like I’m a bit of a tough match up, if someone’s a bit too tall I think I’m a bit better than them on the ground.
“If I get a smaller opponent or the same size, I’m decent in the air. He saw it a lot differently, he saw it from the outside point of view and it was super helpful and I can’t thank him enough.”
Mellor was around the mark for Vic Country selection early on in the season until a matchwinning six-goal haul in the Young Guns showcase clash, where he booted four goals in the final quarter alone.
“That was probably my turning point, that Young Guns that I could play pure forward and get some shots on goal,” Mellor said.
“I’ve found sometimes this year I can get hot in quarters and I kind of felt like I got a good match up and our midfield was on top. Got a bit lucky sometimes, but it just felt it was kind of my day.”
At the national championships Mellor booted three goals against South Australia and the Allies, finishing with eight majors for the carnival and All-Australian recognition.
He continued to showcase his x-factor and power for the Falcons in the back-half of the year, highlighted by his 19 disposals, 10 score involvements, 4.3 in a crunch finals win against Bendigo.
“I thought I improved a lot from last year, probably changing a bit more of my mentality, playing more forward than midfield,” Mellor said.
“It was great for me and the Falcons have supported me and I’m really proud to be honest.”
Overall, Mellor’s has made the most of his opportunity as he vies to get drafted by the Cats or another club.
“I’d love the opportunity (to play at Geelong), I’d love nothing more,” Mellor said.
“But wherever it is, I’d just love to get on an AFL list.”
Originally published as Geelong academy prospect Jesse Mellor on how he discovered his NGA eligibility, his father’s guidance and defining role change
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