CARLISLE, Jake

Tall and athletic, Jake Carlisle was a strong overhead mark and courageous around packs. His versatility led him to becoming a key component of the Bombers' defence as well as an effective forward, marking him as a future key position player at either end of the ground.

He was recruited at pick 24 in the 2009 National Draft from Victorian team, the Calder Cannons. He made his senior debut in Round 20, 2010, against Collingwood at the MCG, and finished the season with three games.

He returned to the seniors late in the following season, eventually playing every game from Round 18 to the Elimination Final. He had a fine 2012, playing 18 games and earning a Rising Star nomination for his Round 9 game against Greater Western Sydney and the Club's Most Improved Player award. Thereafter, he played at least 17 games each year in his next three seasons.

He was selected in 22Under22 team in 2013 and 2014, and finished sixth in the Club's Best and Fairest award in 2013.

Carlisle's match-winning eight goals against the Western Bulldogs in late 2014 was a career high for him. He finished that season with 27 goals, only one behind the Bombers' leading goal kicker that year, Joe Daniher.

He appeared to have a long and successful career in red and black ahead of him, but in late 2015 he requested a trade from Essendon, claiming the Club's so-called supplements saga had taken its toll on him. He was traded to St Kilda on 21 October 2015. Essendon received pick 5 in the National Draft for him and with it, the Club selected Darcy Parish.

But his first pre-season with the Saints ended abruptly when he was among the 34 past and present players and officials who were suspended for the entire 2016 season by the AFL because of the saga.

The very day he was traded he was seen sniffing a white substance and he admitted to using cocaine. He was suspended for two games, which he served concurrently with his season-long ban, and forfeited $50,000 in marketing money.

He resumed his career with St Kilda in 2017 before suffering a back injury requiring surgery which would have ruled him out for the rest of the year. He chose instead to retire although he was only 29 years old. He played 66 games for St Kilda and kicked eight goals.