POLKINGHORNE, James

James Polkinghorne had a fine career at Brisbane, playing 94 games in seven seasons between 2008 and 2014. He played school football with local Essendon school, St Bernard's, where he was also an excellent volleyball player. This contributed to his high marking ability.

He was an exciting small forward and midfielder who was a tough competitor, strong overhead mark and a great long kick.

He was delisted by Brisbane at the end of 2014 and returned to Melbourne, playing for Essendon's VFL side which had lost 26 players due to the so-called supplements saga and winning their best and fairest award that year.

He was added to the senior list in 2016 as one of the ten "top-up" players who replaced the senior players suspended due to the Supplements saga. He played seven games, taking him past the 100-game milestone.

He played in only one win for Essendon, his last in the AFL, a six-point win over Gold Coast in Round 21.

His father, Robert, and his uncle, David Polkinghorne both played for Hawthorn.

James Polkinghorne was delisted at the end of 2016 but returned to Essendon in January 2022 when he was appointed inaugural manager of the Essendon Education Academy, after years of experience in a range of management and marketing roles.