Essendon midfielder Jake Melksham has opened up about the tough times he faced during the 2012 season as he struggled to find the form he knew he was capable of.

Melksham was one of just two Bombers to play all 22 games last season (Jobe Watson the other) but has revealed on The Hangar his disappointment at the way his form dropped off in the second half of the season.

“Last year probably wasn’t the year I wanted or expected,” Melksham said.

“I started ok but there was a few games there that I thought I could have built on and had some really good games.”

“It probably wasn’t how I planned and with the side’s performance in the second half of the year, we went downwards on the ladder and I went that way as well.”

Melksham said he became increasingly frustrated at not being able to play to his full potential.

“It just didn’t work for me, I had put in all the work but there was a bit of soul searching there for a little while wondering what was going wrong and how we could get me playing my best footy,” he said.

“I know that I am a lot better than what I can dish up sometimes and I know what I can do if I really put myself up to it.

“Its more so myself, I know that I am a better player than what I display sometimes and it is just frustrating for myself and I get myself down on that a bit.”

Watch The Hangar tonight at 9.00pm on FOX Footy to see the full Melksham interview.