Jacob Melling

Jacob Melling (born 4 April 1995) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Charlestown Azzurri.

Jacob Melling

Melling playing for Western Sydney Wanderers in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Jacob Steven Melling
Date of birth	(1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth	Adelaide, Australia
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Youth career
	Modbury Jets
2010	SASI
2011	AIS
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2014	Adelaide United	9	(0)
2013	Para Hills Knights	8	(1)
2014–2016	Melbourne City	36	(1)
2016–2018	Western Sydney Wanderers	3	(0)
2018–2020	Central Coast Mariners	35	(0)
2021	Terrigal United[1]	2	(0)
2022–2024	Charlestown Azzurri	20	(6)
2024	Woongarrah Wildcats FC
International career‡
2010–2011	Australia U17	11	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 September 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 4 July 2011

Biography

Melling attended Saint Paul's College, Gilles Plains. He was raised through the South Australian youth football setups of Modbury Jets and then the South Australian Sports Institute Football Program (SASI) before playing a key part in the South Australian side's championship win in the FFA State Institute Challenge in 2010.^[2] Melling was named Player of the Tournament, and was offered a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport Football Program^[3] where he then went on to form a mainstay in the heart of the Joeys midfield.^{[citation needed]}

Adelaide United

On 18 March 2011, it was announced that Adelaide United had signed Melling on for his first professional club contract from the start of 2012.^[4]

Melling made his first team debut as a 78th minute substitution in the Round 14 match against Melbourne Heart.^[5]

On 15 March 2013, Melling was granted permission to be listed with two clubs^[6] so until the end of the end of the 2012–13 season Melling was listed with both Adelaide United and Para Hills Knights. He recorded 8 appearances with Para Hills Knights.^[7]

Melbourne City

On 20 May 2014 it was announced that Melling joined Melbourne City alongside two other youth players, Connor Chapman and James Brown.^[8]

Western Sydney Wanderers

On 12 August 2016, Melling joined Western Sydney Wanderers on a two-year deal together with teammate Jack Clisby.^[9] On 2 January 2018, he was released by Western Sydney Wanderers.^[10]

Central Coast Mariners

One day after leaving Western Sydney Wanderers, Melling joined Central Coast Mariners on a half-year deal.^[11] Melling was released by the Mariners in September 2020 at the end of the 2019–20 A-League.^[12]

Career statistics

As of 25 October 2014

Club	Season	League		Cup		Continental		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Adelaide United	2011–12[13]	9	0	–	–	1	0	10	0
	2012–13[13]	0	0	–	–	–	–	0	0
	2013–14[13]	0	0	–	–	–	–	0	0
	Total	9	0	–	–	1	0	10	0
Para Hills Knights	2013[7]	8	1	–	–	–	–	8	1
	Total	8	1	–	–	–	–	8	1
Melbourne City	2014–15[13]	1	0	0	0	–	–	1	0
	Total	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Total		18	1	0	0	1	0	19	1