General News
5 July, 2025
Local lad real Bears achiever
By ADAM BOURKE FOR much of the 2025 Loddon Valley season, the spotlight at Bears Lagoon Serpentine has centered around the form and availability of key forward Josh Mellington. That’s understandable considering the presence the former Fremantle...
By ADAM BOURKE
FOR much of the 2025 Loddon Valley season, the spotlight at Bears Lagoon Serpentine has centered around the form and availability of key forward Josh Mellington.
That’s understandable considering the presence the former Fremantle Dockers’ forward has when he’s on the park.
While everyone wants to talk about Mellington, one of his young team-mates has flown under the radar and put together an impressive season.
Home-grown product Jaxon Addlem has been arguably the Bears’ most consistent player in 2025.
Injected into the Bears’ midfield, the 19-year-old has been in his side’s best players in six of their 10 games.
Bears’ coach Jake Wilkinson has shown his faith in Addlem by giving him run-with roles against some of the Loddon Valley’s premier on-ballers.
As well as having a strong defensive mindset, Addlem also adds a key ingredient to the Bears’ midfield mix – leg speed.
“He’s developing every week,’’ Wilkinson said of Addlem.
“The more time we can get him in there (the midfield) the more it’s going to help us in terms of our quickness.
“We’re not an overly quick side, so he definitely helps us in that area.
“He adds another dimension to our midfield group and he’s been super consistent.
“He’s having a really good season for us.”
Addlem made his senior debut with the Bears in 2022, while he was still playing under-18 football with East Loddon. After three senior games in 2022, he made eight senior appearances in 2023.
Addlem played all 18 senior games last year, including both of the Bears’ finals matches.
The expectation is Addlem will add more finals matches to his career tally this year.
Leading into round 13 this Saturday, the Bears have a 6-4 record and sit in fourth place on the ladder.
Fresh from the bye, the Bears tackle second-placed Pyramid Hill (9-2) at Mitchell Park.
“The bye has come at a really good time for us,’’ Wilkinson said.
“We have two tough games in a row to come against Pyramid Hill and Marong and then, hopefully, we can get through the next four games to build up for the finals.”
Mellington (hamstring) is unlikely to be part of the Bears’ line-up to take on the Bulldogs.
Addlem will have the chance to add another scalp to his name should Wilkinson decide to give the teenager another tagging role.
On the back of another superb performance against Mitiamo, Ben Knight is the most likely Pyramid Hill midfielder to have Addlem as his minder for the day.