News

Melksham and Slattery prepare to do battle

Monday, 5 December 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

Bomber stars Jake Melksham and Henry Slattery will swap their footballs for a tennis racquet this Saturday as the pair prepares to do battle against some of the finest sporting figures at Melbourne Park.

The 'Battle of the Codes' free event will feature double pairings from 16 different Melbourne sporting clubs who will swap their football, rugby, cricket bat, basketball or netball for a tennis racquet to preview the summer of tennis in Australia leading up to the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

Melksham and Slattery, who both showcased their football talents for the Bombers in fine form this year, will take on the likes of Shane Wakelin and Tarkyn Lockyer from Collingwood, Bryce Gibbs and Jordan Russell from Carlton, Brad Green and Cale Morton from Melbourne and Nathan Foley and Shaun Grigg from Richmond, as well as players from Geelong, Hawthorn, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.

Essendon star Dyson Heppell will also be attending the event.

Stars from the Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Vixens, Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne Stars and the Melbourne Renegades will also be represented on Saturday at Melbourne Park.

The all-star line up will fight it out to be crowned the tennis championship team at Melbourne Park this Saturday from 1pm.

Click here for more information.

One Team. One Dream - Stand As One. Click here to purchase your 2012 membership today.

PLAYER PROFILE: Jake Melksham
PLAYER PROFILE: Henry Slattery

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Paddy Ryder has the height for a great serve- he certainly lifted his game to an elite level in the second half of last year.

- Thomas Faunce (posted 5/12/2011 5:05:49 PM)

Great idea - but where Fletch? He was a junior champion! And what happened to Paddy's Pizza Plug?

- Kris Bayne (posted 5/12/2011 5:11:13 PM)

hopefully i can make it to see the 2 bomber boys!!

- Isabelle El Hage (posted 5/12/2011 5:41:19 PM)

Went the way of Margaret's egg scrapers Kris,just too popular for their own good... not.. :-) DVD on the way as promised.Now recording for Bill.. Cheers Noel :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 5/12/2011 5:45:32 PM)

Two tough competitors! Pretty keen to get a story on young O'Brien EI. Also looking forward to news of the open training date. Can do my 4 memberships and hopefully have enough for the flight plan (just don't draft Fev). Should leave enough for 2 minute noodles for chrissy lunch.

- Brad Scarr (posted 5/12/2011 5:47:30 PM)

Different thread - what if a potentially elite talent could be coaxed out of his nadir and motivated to reach his zenith. Would you draft him? His first AFL coach is now at Essendon.

- Martin Gol (posted 5/12/2011 8:00:52 PM)

was paddy at the pizza shop on saturday?

- Rolf Buchner (posted 5/12/2011 8:51:47 PM)

Hope these boys are better than Fletch as from all accounts Fletch actually was pretty good at tennis too. We need Fletch everywhere!!!

- Alan De Menezes (posted 5/12/2011 10:30:54 PM)

Reckon we're fortunate to have two emerging young leaders like these two.

- Graham Flynn (posted 6/12/2011 9:12:07 AM)

What a great pair you two are turning out to be. Same mischevious smiles, good buddies by the look,future leaders. Talented to boot. Have fun in the tennis game. Good to see the both of you representing the Bombers, overseas & home.

- Gail Taylor (posted 6/12/2011 9:18:01 AM)

Nathan?

- Brad Scarr (posted 6/12/2011 3:00:10 PM)

Brad and Martin, now you have me guessing, and Bradley a caraway seed with your noodles wont bust the calorie count.

- Bill Carbis (posted 6/12/2011 4:20:02 PM)

Always the father figure Mr.C.

- Brad Scarr (posted 6/12/2011 5:01:19 PM)

Yep!

- Martin Gol (posted 6/12/2011 7:50:48 PM)

Martin G - well, Bomber would know, I guess. My best mate was a trainer there and had a bit to do with him. Always said he just lacked 'something', some drive, whatever. Wonder if he has found it? If he couldn't among a bunch of kids last year, I doubt it.

- Kris Bayne (posted 6/12/2011 8:50:16 PM)

Stop worrying, I get it.

- Bill Carbis (posted 7/12/2011 10:12:48 AM)

NOEL - you are a star! Thanks for the Xmas pressie! I can't wait to listen for those beautiful words again in the forward pocket - "Move the ball on, Mike! - three times, then a whistle! If only my red and black cavort through the Carlton members bar was captured for prosperity! Those INDEED were the days, my friend! MARTIN - Big question is, is Nathan ready, willing and ablett?

- Kris Bayne (posted 7/12/2011 11:41:48 AM)

UNablett to get motivated enough, IMO.

- Kris Bayne (posted 7/12/2011 11:42:25 AM)

Maybe Martin & Brad,we can "recruit" his Dad to be a scout for us,without leaving QLD..?! Nahhh... too much baggage with the lot of them,Kris is spot on.. he's lost the drive.. In Hird & Bomber we trust.. :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 7/12/2011 12:02:50 PM)

One thing Kris/Brad/Bill/Noel it's a long shot theory on my part. It requires thinking outside the box with the vision of what can be. The major difference between NA and say AL & BF is their best is behind them. Natham's best is still ahead of him - if he wants it!

- Martin Gol (posted 7/12/2011 7:35:58 PM)

Martin, he's 33's and drifting.

- Bill Carbis (posted 8/12/2011 10:18:42 AM)

Didn't this page originally begin with Melksham and Zaharakis? Evidently, Henry Slattery must be a reasonable tennis player. All the best Essendon reps!!

- Martin Gol (posted 10/12/2011 2:10:40 PM)

Essendon has selections 11-29-47-64-78-85 in the rookie draft. If we add the numerical value of the Nov/Dec drafts together then pick 11 becomes something like 110. Just goes to show Adrian Dodoro and Merv Keane have extensive knowledge of what football talent is available. Good luck guys!

- Martin Gol (posted 10/12/2011 2:40:04 PM)

My mid-week "teaser" on Nathan Ablett may not be in vain. Hearing Geelong will redraft him if he shows sufficient interest. Have to wait and see!

- Martin Gol (posted 10/12/2011 2:45:44 PM)

Nathan does not seem to be the type to get himself motivated running around as a rookie listed twos player. Like at the Suns, he needed to get himself in the ones which he couldn't do. As Mark Mc says - is it another forward we really need? Also wonder if Bomber has actually given him a call?

- Brad Scarr (posted 11/12/2011 7:21:28 AM)

If we pick NA as a rookie before Geelong get a chance to (purely hyper'l of course) this place won't be just known as "Windy" Hill,it will be called "On Fire" Hill,thanks to some ferals from you know where... They will be livid :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 11/12/2011 8:12:03 PM)

Rumour has it, D.Zaharakis (a fine detective in the making) is unavailable because he is out helping in the search for the "Waltons" Family... :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 11/12/2011 8:17:15 PM)

Goodnight Noel.

- Bill Carbis (posted 12/12/2011 12:53:40 PM)

Well they've all turned up Bill,in the "Bombers Set For The Sun" forum.. now there's (not in birth order) Ralph-bob,"sausage" Roel-bob,Ray-bob,Troel-bob.. sadly bob-bob isn't there too but I suspect his portait is on the wall above the bed of each of the abovementioned,all in the same room,all in the same.. err perish the thought... Goodnight Bill :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 12/12/2011 4:46:59 PM)