Midway through the third quarter, Essendon’s season was slipping away.

Williamstown had jumped to a 26-point lead in last year’s VFL Preliminary Final. 

Bombers Coach Hayden Skipworth swung James Polkinghorne forward and the former Brisbane Lions player helped regain the momentum for the red and black.

By three quarter time he had three goals to his name and the Bombers were in front.

It provided a brief snapshot into the qualities that have endeared Polkinghorne to his teammates and coaches throughout his career.

“He had a fantastic impact on all of the players,” Essendon’s 2015 VFL Coach Hayden Skipworth said of Polkinghorne’s impact last year.

“His leadership, his quality of play – everyone saw that in the Preliminary Final where he pretty much got us back into the game in the third quarter.

“He’s been a fantastic person to have around the Club.  He certainly helps our younger guys, both on the AFL list and the VFL list and he’s been a great addition this year.”

Essendon’s General Manager of Football Operations Rob Kerr said Polkinghorne had always possessed those ‘mercurial’ qualities.

The pair worked together at Brisbane where Kerr was National Talent Manager.

“He (Polkinghorne) was certainly a very respected member of the team up there,” Kerr said.

“He probably suffered a little bit from never really being given a set position.  He was one of those players that could find himself up forward, sometimes playing out of the goal square as a leading forward, sometimes on the ball and every now then down back.

“He was that versatile player.  It would have been nice if he could have settled in one role but the fact he could do a number of things on any given day probably led to him racking up the games up there at Brisbane.”

Polkinghorne played 94 games with Brisbane before joining Essendon’s VFL team last year.

He won the best and fairest and along the way was admired for his professionalism and respected for his leadership. 

The 27 year old was destined for another season in the VFL this year before ten additional spots at the Bombers arose.

“When we had to go and find some players, he was pretty highly rated for us because he has become a great Essendon person, particularly with that VFL group, he provides a great connection,” Kerr said.

“He’d been doing some work for us in terms of the player development area as well … he’s got a fair investment in the Club and his football at VFL level suggested he was worthy of the opportunity to come up and have the chance to play AFL again.” 

Polkinghorne said reaching the 100 game milestone was one his goals when his spot on the senior list was confirmed.

“Definitely when I signed on it was always there, it has been sitting in front on me for a while just dangling,” he said.

“To get it done is a really nice feeling, I’m really excited and it’s almost a bit of a relief to tick that box.

“The last four or five years have been a real grind, so to get a bit of a cherry on top for the work that has been done, it’s a nice feeling to soak up now.”

Polkinghorne’s AFL dream began on Essendon’s doorstep.  He played with the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup before Brisbane secured him with the 41^st pick in the 2007 National Draft.

He spent seven seasons with the Lions before returning home at the end of 2014. 

With the 100 game milestone under his belt, Polkinghorne said he wants to make sure the team finishes the season off strongly to launch into next year.

“Coming back to Melbourne, I’m an Essendon boy so to be in the environment Woosha is creating is just unreal,” Polkinghorne said. 

“As a team we’ve got a big three weeks to finish on a high and have the boys take momentum into their pre-season next year. 

“Personally, I want to maintain high standards and help those guys do the same so that’s what I’ll be focusing on – to make sure training is at a good level, bringing energy and things that I can do to help the boys finish off the season the way we want.

“VFL wise, they’re sitting in an ok spot to give finals a nudge so we’ll see what happens there, but it’d be nice to have another finals series with them.” 

Like the nine other recruits Essendon landed earlier this year, Polkinghorne’s football future is uncertain. 

But regardless of whether his AFL career continues, those that know him best expect Polkinghorne’s next chapter to be a success. 

“I think he’s the type of person that would be an asset to any football organisation, or any organisation in general,” Kerr said.

“I would expect he’d have a very bright future ahead of him once the playing days are done.”