Melbourne forward Jake Melksham locks in new deal until end of 2022

Dynamic Melbourne forward Jake Melksham has been rewarded for his career-best AFL season with a new three-year deal that binds him to the Demons until the end of 2022.

Dynamic Melbourne forward Jake Melksham has been rewarded for his career-best AFL season with a new three-year deal that binds him to the Demons until the end of the 2022 season.

The 27-year-old was one of the catalysts behind the club’s first finals appearance in more than a decade, kicking 32 goals last year, which was third overall for the Demons.

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Melksham couldn’t be more grateful to Melbourne for its support, particularly through his season-long suspension in 2016 arising out of the Essendon sports supplements saga, and was pleasantly surprised to lock in a new long-term contract.

“This is my fourth year at the club now and I’m getting to that age bracket where I’m a little bit older, so for them to show that faith and give me another three-year extension is really exciting for both parties,” Melksham told the club’s website.

Jake Melksham celebrates a goal in last year’s finals series. Picture: Phil Hillyard

He said the Demons, who made it through to the preliminary final last year, were perfectly poised to push for what would be a drought-breaking premiership this year and beyond.

“I think the last four to six weeks of the home-and-away season were building and then to play those two finals in Melbourne at the MCG against Geelong and Hawthorn … it was good to beat them,” he said.

“The Dees fans were up and about as well so it was a great time to be playing footy and to be a part of Melbourne.

“Although we didn’t perform the way we wanted to (against West Coast in the preliminary final), I feel like we’ve learned a lot of lessons from the season and from that game in particular to hopefully take it to the next level this year.”

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Originally published as Melbourne forward Jake Melksham locks in new deal until end of 2022