Melksham, 25, was traded to the Demons in October 2015 after 114 games in six seasons at Essendon, but had to wait 12 months to play for his new club after being banned, along with 33 other former Essendon teammates, by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Having been permitted to return to Demons training late last year, Melksham was told early last week that he would be picked to face the Western Bulldogs' in Melbourne's JLT Community series opener at the Whitten Oval on Saturday.

After more than 17 months without a game, Melksham was understandably apprehensive during the week when he thought about what lay ahead against the Dogs.

However Melksham said that seeing the previously banned Bombers play again, against Collingwood on Thursday night, had reassured him that everything would be OK.

"In the middle of the week I was getting a little bit agitated and a bit anxious but after I watched the game Thursday night and the Hawks-Geelong game [on Friday night] it made me feel a little bit more at ease," Melksham said after the Dees' six-point win against the Bulldogs on Saturday.

"I watched the whole game. I texted the boys before they played. It was good to watch. Just good to see them out there having fun and enjoying themselves again. It's just good that footy's back and we've got that to focus on again."

Melksham said it no longer felt strange watching his former club play. "It's been a little while now. I'm used to it, I'm used to the red and blue now and that's what I've got ahead of me so [I'm] just looking forward to the whole year with the fellas," he said.

Playing mainly in defence, Melksham had 13 disposals against the Dogs and said he had plenty of improvement left in him.

"[I was] a little bit rusty but that [touch] will come over the next few weeks with the rest of the JLT series. Time's on our side, my side as well, so looking forward to it.

"We're still working on that connection with each other and I didn't feel like it was a real heavy running game. I feel pretty good at the moment which is a good sign.

"The more play we play together it'll work out."

Melksham said he expected to spend time both in the backline and the midfield this year. He said he wasn't sure whether he would play one or two of the Dees' remaining matches in the JLT series, but tipped fellow former Bomber Michael Hibberd to appear at some stage after missing Saturday's match.