Essendon have admitted to disappointment that onballer Jake Melksham wants an AFL trade.
The Bombers have confirmed Melksham has joined key position player Jake Carlisle in deciding he wants to play elsewhere next season.
“Jake is a talented young midfielder with more than 100 games experience and were extremely disappointed in his decision to seek a trade,” Bombers recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro said on Friday.
It is understood Melksham wants to join Melbourne.
He played 18 games this season for a career total of 114.
Essendon recruited him with the No.10 pick in the 2009 national draft and he made his AFL debut the following season.
Melksham came out of contract at the end of this season and the AFL website reported he turned down a two-year offer from the Bombers.
His decision to seek a trade is another blow for Essendon as they continue to deal with the fallout from their disastrous supplements saga.