Retired #11: David Zaharakis - Survivin'

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11 - [PLAYERCARD]David Zaharakis[/PLAYERCARD].jpg

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent 2021
Last Game Played: Round 19, 2021 (omit)
Injury Status: n/a
 
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ScrappyCoCo said:
Zaka is our new Stanton. For some reason he is continually bashed here. Tries harder than most our boys week in, week out. Gets his hands on it consistently. Might be limited in some areas but gives his best...always and that is all you can ask from your players. May not be a brilliant Robbie Flower type but I bet if we had a really good midfield around him he would look better.
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He gets a little bit of a pass from me because at least he's willing to bust a gut and make an option when we have the ball, all the other stuff is why he's seen as less than absolute top flight, which I believe he's absolutely good enough to be
 
ScrappyCoCo said:
Zaka is our new Stanton. For some reason he is continually bashed here. Tries harder than most our boys week in, week out. Gets his hands on it consistently. Might be limited in some areas but gives his best...always and that is all you can ask from your players. May not be a brilliant Robbie Flower type but I bet if we had a really good midfield around him he would look better.
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Honestly what would fix that is 1-2 goals a game, consistently. Someone to free him up a bit and to find some space. He also needs more of a silky smooth confidence in his stride, something that shows he "KNOWS" that he commands the ball and can control the play a bit more. Taking the game on a bit more and confidently.
 
ScrappyCoCo said:
Zaka is our new Stanton. For some reason he is continually bashed here. Tries harder than most our boys week in, week out. Gets his hands on it consistently. Might be limited in some areas but gives his best...always and that is all you can ask from your players. May not be a brilliant Robbie Flower type but I bet if we had a really good midfield around him he would look better.
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Of course, that's why he gets bashed so much. Zaka was at his peak when we had guys like Howlett, Hocking and Stanton around him that could provide that two-way pressure which took the heat off Zaka and Myers. Now those hard running guys have gone and consequently, these deficiencies are crystal clear to everybody.
But you can't really say he tries hard when his biggest deficiency is that he just doesn't quite try hard enough for the whole game. He'd be a superstar if he did, but he seems content to just be above average. On Wednesday he (like most of the team) was playing lazy, unaccountable football and padded his stats with some seriously cheap touches. That's not giving your best.
 

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I still remember when he went on his solo training trip to colorado in the offseason and came back with quite a tank.
The team has many more things to worry about ahead of my boy Zakas form.

Schedule him a chat with Bretzel Goddard at the end of every quarter if you are worried about effort. But you cant be too harsh on him being flat in a flat team getting pumped on anzac day. Not many players are going to look good in that scenario
 
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hurlygurdy said:
If a trade option came up for an equivalent tough inside mid, i'd be all over it like Green on a cupcake.
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That's a pretty tricky scenario.

Zaka is Essendon through-and-through. He put up with the saga and stayed and hasn't really entertained looking elsewhere. Hooker wins a lot of plaudits for a similar attitude, but Zaka doesn't really get the same level of love.

Would a tough inside-mid suit the team better? Yes. Would trading Zaka to get one be harmful to the club culture? Possibly.
 
He's our - lesser - version of a Gaff or Scully in my thoughts; a good outside running type who can do damage if left (and able) to roam freely but isn't going to be particularly game-changing if we're getting beaten at the contest.

I think we keep expecting him to become an A-grade mid because his best games are Elite, but in real terms he's a solid B-grader that has his deficiencies.

Not sure we should be rushing to trade him, but he's the kind of guy we'd love to be in our 8 - 15th best range instead of waiting on him to be a top 5 player.
 
Zach Package said:
He gets a little bit of a pass from me because at least he's willing to bust a gut and make an option when we have the ball, all the other stuff is why he's seen as less than absolute top flight, which I believe he's absolutely good enough to be
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Its funny how people think (and I am not saying this about you)...just because someone is at their club they should be the best players for their role going around. The reality is that some footballers..may very well do all the right things, be just as passionate, train to the best standards etc. but will never be as good as the bloke from another club. Its important that they be the best they can be and give their all..that is all you can ask as a supporter and if they never become an a grade star...so be it.
 
Mootsy said:
Honestly what would fix that is 1-2 goals a game, consistently. Someone to free him up a bit and to find some space. He also needs more of a silky smooth confidence in his stride, something that shows he "KNOWS" that he commands the ball and can control the play a bit more. Taking the game on a bit more and confidently.
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ScrappyCoCo absolutely likes any post that uses the term silky smooth in it!
 
Highly Evolved said:
That's a pretty tricky scenario.

Zaka is Essendon through-and-through. He put up with the saga and stayed and hasn't really entertained looking elsewhere. Hooker wins a lot of plaudits for a similar attitude, but Zaka doesn't really get the same level of love.

Would a tough inside-mid suit the team better? Yes. Would trading Zaka to get one be harmful to the club culture? Possibly.
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Yeah i'll take the risk thanks.
 

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Zaharakis has been decent. Had a couple of great games. Certainly not the biggest problem in our side at the moment.

He generally plays well against Melbourne so hopefully he can step it up
 
Surprised at our inconsistency are you David?
Aren't we all.
 
BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!! said:
I would have been upset if we traded him you don't trade away blokes like Zaka who are loyal to your club.
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Yet you want us to be like Richmond and have players who defend, tackle and play a role no matter what :rolleyes:
 
Sorry but he is one of the main problems. People say he busts a gut but it is selective. He seems to be driven by his possession count. For some reason he just does not defend. Twice on Sunday when the ball was inside Melbourne's 50 he set up within 15 meters of a free Melbourne player and did not even look twice or even think hey this bloke is loose inside 50 better try and man him up. Just set up in a position where he might get another stat if we won the ball. Both times you know what happens next, bloke 40 meters out on his own ends up with the footy. Melbourne score both times although Zaka had some luck as one was a behind.
He can play some good footy but if he can not defend and lead the way as an experienced player then we are pretty much ****ed.
 
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ant555 said:
Sorry but he is one of the main problems. People say he busts a gut but it is selective. He seems to be driven by his possession count. For some reason he just does not defend. Twice on Sunday when the ball was inside Melbourne's 50 he set up within 15 meters of a free Melbourne player and did not even look twice or even think hey this bloke is loose inside 50 better try and man him up. Just set up in a position where he might get another stat if we won the ball. Both times you know what happens next, bloke 4 meters out on his own ends up with the footy. Melbourne score both times although Zaka had some luck as one was a behind.
He can play some good footy but if he can not defend and lead the way as an experienced player then we are pretty much ******.
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The one that resulted in a goal also resulted me in bursting a capillary, I'm pretty sure. It was so infuriating to watch, because you could see it unfolding from miles away.
 
Doss said:
The one that resulted in a goal also resulted me in bursting a capillary, I'm pretty sure. It was so infuriating to watch, because you could see it unfolding from miles away.
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Yep. I can hack losing but lack of effort or just plain stupid has me going for the blood pressure tablets.
 
ant555 said:
Sorry but he is one of the main problems. People say he busts a gut but it is selective. He seems to be driven by his possession count. For some reason he just does not defend. Twice on Sunday when the ball was inside Melbourne's 50 he set up within 15 meters of a free Melbourne player and did not even look twice or even think hey this bloke is loose inside 50 better try and man him up. Just set up in a position where he might get another stat if we won the ball. Both times you know what happens next, bloke 40 meters out on his own ends up with the footy. Melbourne score both times although Zaka had some luck as one was a behind.
He can play some good footy but if he can not defend and lead the way as an experienced player then we are pretty much ******.
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The AFL's version of Russell Westbrook.
 

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Retired #11: David Zaharakis - Survivin'

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