Retired #11: David Zaharakis - Survivin'

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent 2021
Last Game Played: Round 19, 2021 (omit)
Injury Status: n/a

 

[IggypopsTshirt]

Critics (myself included) answered and put in their place for the moment. That’s the standard of effort and output we should expect from our most experienced mid.

 

[Bombermania]

Thanks Zaka for proving me wrong this week because that was the response i wanted to see.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

CD ranked as our highest player. Well done DZ.

 

[pepsi]

Well done David. Been a critic, but that was a great game and contribution.

 

[JT_the_Man]

Good to have you back Zaka!

 

[BrunoV]

Who are you and what have you done with the old duffle bag of ski gear that was wearing the 11 for the last week 18 months?

I think there were a few typos in your post.

 

[Highly Evolved]

Great game, hopefully he can back it up!

 

[Dave]

20 touches, 3 goals, nice return, need to keep that up.

 

[table tennis]

On this day he was resurrected

 

[eddie_punchclock]

quietened the couch potato fair weather whiney supporters in style, good game mate

 

[Donakebab]

 

[mad_monkey_j]

Look I don't want to get negative on what was essentially a match winning game, but no one could say it wasn't justified asking for his dropping the past few rounds. Surely he was playing a different role to a defensive senior player bullshit covering position?

 

[ghostdog]

Good game tonight. Two awful games before tonight. A good game next week will cancel the two awful games out, then we can clean the slate again? Consistency has to be the standard.

 

[ant555]

Highlights why seasoned players do get a reprieve at times. Was 300% better. Well done Zaka.

 

[Darealrath]

That was a very 'old GAJ' performance. Just cleaner than everyone else and able to nail difficult and important goals.

His whole career has played out like he's a GAJ cover band (which is not a knock!).

 

[The Camel]

This was no resurrection. One swallow doesn't make a summer. And it certainly doesn't wipe out the previous three years of underwhelming performances which are not to the standard of a 200-gamer.

A washed up has-been beating up a kid.

Last night was a benchmark. If he drops below this standard then he's still very much in the delist pile (sooner rather than later for mine).

Sorry David. You're on borrowed time.

 

[DERO]

Might be time for a new av lol

Could I suggest a new username as well? I hear that Beerfish is available.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

 

[Gabe251]

Come ooooon continue this Zaka. I WANT TO BE WRONG SO BADLY!

 

[Gabe251]

This was no resurrection. One swallow doesn't make a summer. And it certainly doesn't wipe out the previous three years of underwhelming performances which are not to the standard of a 200-gamer.

A washed up has-been beating up a kid.

Last night was a benchmark. If he drops below this standard then he's still very much in the delist pile (sooner rather than later for mine).

Sorry David. You're on borrowed time.

Idk mate. With the forward line we have at the moment, I'd take two goals, 10 disposals.

He's certainly in the delist bucket. But he doesn't need to light it up like he did last night. 20 disposals and three goals is a massive night in the modern game on shortened game time.

 

[Lore]

Interesting re-watching last night's game, one of the commentators at the start of Q2 said Shiel changed positions, playing that Zaka role as a defensive HF rolling back to pick up the opposition wing. Parish obviously went inside as well.

All that to say that it might explain why Zaka got off the hook and made an impact in attack for the first time in a while.

 

[fairbump_playon]

i think players should refuse to play unsexy, publicly misunderstood roles where they can't rack up stats.

it's simply too damaging for their bigfooty reputation.

take a stand zaka. nobody puts baby back in the corner.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Just curious mate, where did you get that from? Can't find it on AFL site

 

[Donakebab]

Just curious mate, where did you get that from? Can't find it on AFL site

The ratings aren't great, but it does give a good visual on where he had his possessions and how effective they were. This graphic is only produced for the highest rating player of each match.

 

[blitzer]

I'm still pretty dubious about this whole Zaharakis as a defensive forward thing. I want to say this now right after he played a cracking game. Zaharakis does not have a defensive bone in his body. He's not good in the air and he's inconsistent in his tackling. He's always been an offensive player. If we think we are turning him into a lockdown defender I think we are kidding ourselves.

This isn't really about potting Zaka, I just think he's an offensive small forward if he stays in the side. If you want a lockdown forward, try someone like Guelfi or try Langford etc. Zaka's best game he got off the chain but I still see little evidence that he's going to be able to play on the best rebounding defenders and hold them. Do we really think he could handle a Lloyd or a Houli or a Zac Williams or someone of that ilk?

The club has tried a few things with Zaka. The small defender thing was a total failure (and pointless since we didn't even need another defender). I think we've at least got him in the right end of the ground but I still question the actual role. Shiel's not always going to float forward and take over the defensive aspect of his role to break his own tag.