AFL Player # 5: Elijah Tsatas

[TheGrizz]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2026
2024 My Boy Draft: Pick 14, Lore

 

[ant555]

Here’s the thing though….if your strength is getting first hands on the footy in and around the contest, then don’t you need to be a physical beast? Either to power through to the outside or to absorb pressure and release to teammates.

I can’t see Tsatas doing either of those consistently. My fear is that he’s a better version of Elliot Kavanagh but with same issue - inside game, outside body.

It’s really early and God I hope I’m wrong…..but this has been my worry since I first watched him at u18 champs last year.

Having watched him at under 18 champs game I was totally underwhelmed with his physical efforts and defense but had no question with his clearance work. He may not look it now but he has basically had limited training in the past 2 seasons. Shoulder injury has hindered his upper body development previously and then the knee limiting his training this year. When you get a close look at him up close you can see he will have power through the glutes and quads. Unlike Parish he has definition. He has pretzel arms but a solid core. You can see in his marking he has decent core strength.
The one game he played in last years champs was off the back of only a few games back after being out for 3 months. It was not really an exciting performance. I did not really rate the game at all. His clearance form was sensational early in the year before he got injured.
Trust me ePDS does not miss much with the under under kids and he was a serious wrap for his clearance work and I concur with what I saw.

 

[Zach Package]

Here’s the thing though….if your strength is getting first hands on the footy in and around the contest, then don’t you need to be a physical beast? Either to power through to the outside or to absorb pressure and release to teammates.

I can’t see Tsatas doing either of those consistently. My fear is that he’s a better version of Elliot Kavanagh but with same issue - inside game, outside body.

It’s really early and God I hope I’m wrong…..but this has been my worry since I first watched him at u18 champs last year.

So far he’s demonstrated that his strengths are how incredibly clean he is below his knees, and how he spreads from congestion and takes the game from inside to outside.

Willing tackler for his size as well which I have been pleasantly surprised with, has a dip even though he’s not always going to stick them, he’s not scared.

The whole ‘how we use him’ thing is a valid concern given we are proven idiots in that space, I will give you that, but I’ve seen enough already. He won’t be a defensive powerhouse but he will e a genuine prime mover.

 

[Yoda_]

So far he’s demonstrated that his strengths are how incredibly clean he is below his knees, and how he spreads from congestion and takes the game from inside to outside.

Willing tackler for his size as well which I have been pleasantly surprised with, has a dip even though he’s not always going to stick them, he’s not scared.

The whole ‘how we use him’ thing is a valid concern given we are proven idiots in that space, I will give you that, but I’ve seen enough already. He won’t be a defensive powerhouse but he will e a genuine prime mover.

just to clarify Darcy Parish were talking about ?

 

[ant555]

So far he’s demonstrated that his strengths are how incredibly clean he is below his knees, and how he spreads from congestion and takes the game from inside to outside.

Willing tackler for his size as well which I have been pleasantly surprised with, has a dip even though he’s not always going to stick them, he’s not scared.

The whole ‘how we use him’ thing is a valid concern given we are proven idiots in that space, I will give you that, but I’ve seen enough already. He won’t be a defensive powerhouse but he will e a genuine prime mover.

The tackle part is a big lift. In the Champ game he played he did not even look interested in tackling.

 

[yodellinhank]

Willing tackler for his size as well which I have been pleasantly surprised with, has a dip even though he’s not always going to stick them, he’s not scared.

You didn't watch any of his VFL games then. He definitely backed out on occasion there. And I haven't watched anything for 3 weeks but it was remarked on the wireless how poor his tackling effort was against one of his fellow draft class in his debut.

 

[Vander18]

Having watched him at under 18 champs game I was totally underwhelmed with his physical efforts and defense but had no question with his clearance work. He may not look it now but he has basically had limited training in the past 2 seasons. Shoulder injury has hindered his upper body development previously and then the knee limiting his training this year. When you get a close look at him up close you can see he will have power through the glutes and quads. Unlike Parish he has definition. He has pretzel arms but a solid core. You can see in his marking he has decent core strength.
The one game he played in last years champs was off the back of only a few games back after being out for 3 months. It was not really an exciting performance. I did not really rate the game at all. His clearance form was sensational early in the year before he got injured.
Trust me ePDS does not miss much with the under under kids and he was a serious wrap for his clearance work and I concur with what I saw.

Respect your view, hope you’re right!

 

[Vander18]

So far he’s demonstrated that his strengths are how incredibly clean he is below his knees, and how he spreads from congestion and takes the game from inside to outside.

Willing tackler for his size as well which I have been pleasantly surprised with, has a dip even though he’s not always going to stick them, he’s not scared.

The whole ‘how we use him’ thing is a valid concern given we are proven idiots in that space, I will give you that, but I’ve seen enough already. He won’t be a defensive powerhouse but he will e a genuine prime mover.

I don’t reckon he does get from inside to outside….that’s the thing.

 

[Zach Package]

The tackle part is a big lift. In the Champ game he played he did not even look interested in tackling.

He’s got himself fit and strong, he’s demonstrated he can shred the lower level, he’s been made to earn his spot and earned it, he’s shown all his attributes as well as a couple I didn’t really count on (namely contested marking and tackling) which is enough for me to be really happy with, can’t ask for much more apart from not get injured in the pre season.

He’s someone to bank on and recruit around, it’s our responsibility to go out and find him a 10 year inside complimentary player.

 

[ant555]

I don’t reckon he does get from inside to outside….that’s the thing.

And I am saying you have not seen the full picture. Did you see any of his games for the Chargers last year before he got injured ? He is a kid that has missed massive amounts of footy and you have seen the games after he has missed that time. When he was up and running he was a jet and had no issues getting from inside to outside. He will end up an 186cm 85kg midfielder. Right now he is playing at 80kg. He does have really good core strength which is half the battle. He is not a lock. He has to be a better kick and he has to find some upper body strength but one weakness he will not have is inside to outside . That is actually what he does best when he is at his best.
Forget the Championship game. He was simply not fit. Now he is a boy playing against men as he has missed some massive development chunks.

 

[Vander18]

And I am saying you have not seen the full picture. Did you see any of his games for the Chargers last year before he got injured ? He is a kid that has missed massive amounts of footy and you have seen the games after he has missed that time. When he was up and running he was a jet and had no issues getting from inside to outside. He will end up an 186cm 85kg midfielder. Right now he is playing at 80kg. He does have really good core strength which is half the battle. He is not a lock. He has to be a better kick and he has to find some upper body strength but one weakness he will not have is inside to outside . That is actually what he does best when he is at his best.
Forget the Championship game. He was simply not fit. Now he is a boy playing against men as he has missed some massive development chunks.

I watched a lot of his game tapes from his top age year but happy to concede I don’t go to u18 games. BUT….I was responding to Package saying it’s a demonstrated strength he shown so far. Think we agree that he hasn’t done that this year….either at VFL or AFL level. Maybe you disagree re VFL.

When he starts doing it at AFL level I’ll be wrong and bloody happy to be wrong. If he did it 18 months ago that’s great but until he does it at this level…..I have concerns.

I’m not writing the guy off, not making definitive statements. I’m saying that I have some worries - that’s it.

 

[ant555]

I watched a lot of his game tapes from his top age year but happy to concede I don’t go to u18 games. BUT….I was responding to Package saying it’s a demonstrated strength he shown so far. Think we agree that he hasn’t done that this year….either at VFL or AFL level. Maybe you disagree re VFL.

When he starts doing it at AFL level I’ll be wrong and bloody happy to be wrong. If he did it 18 months ago that’s great but until he does it at this level…..I have concerns.

I know he has not done it which is why I was not fussed if he played the year out in the VFL. I know he has not had the preparation to be ready to do it. You do not miss big chunks of the year in multiple seasons and find your physical strength in the first year. I doubt he will be ready next year either. But when he is he will have enough size to power out of a stoppage. He will not be a Cripps bash and crash but if they get him right he will have enough power mixed with speed. To be seen of course. If he does not put on the 5 kg he will be a 186 cm Parish.

 

[BrunoV]

So in short, he was the wrong player.

It was ****ing obvious at the time.

 

[Zach Package]

I watched a lot of his game tapes from his top age year but happy to concede I don’t go to u18 games. BUT….I was responding to Package saying it’s a demonstrated strength he shown so far.

Taking the ball from contested to uncontested doesn’t just mean running out of a pack with it with 4 blokes hanging off your back, it’s creating time by letting traffic go past, it’s being one touch with your groundballs so the pocket of space doesn’t collapse on you, it’s handballing out of congestion, not just hot potatoing it to the next nearest bloke.

He’s got genuine craft and skill.

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

Written off by a few already after 2 games give me an effing spell…

 

[Vander18]

Written off by a few already after 2 games give me an effing spell…

Could not have been clearer that I’m not writing him off.

 

[yodellinhank]

Written off by a few already after 2 games give me an effing spell…

I wanted to write him off earlier but wasn't allowed

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

Always looks rushed. Never a good sign for a player

He always looks like he panics when he gets the ball, but it's also game #3 so I'm going to cut him some slack.

 

[MiguelM]

He gets to good spots. Just not physically ready.

Give him a break.

For the past couple of months people have been screaming for him to play, next minute, delist!!

Never change.

 

[Seb78]

Lol, kid had played 3 games, some of us need to get a grip.
I mean, they've just been pumped by 20 goals, Tsatas ain't the problem here.

 

[andleanback]

Always looks rushed. Never a good sign for a player

It’s like he’s played 3 games… Jesus

 

[mIKe9441]

It’s like he’s played 3 games… Jesus

It's not about how many games. It's about their technique and look with the footy. Guys like Bont, Daicos, even Sheezel from the get go look like they always have time and space and are comfortable with the ball. Tsatas always looks rushed and awkward with the footy, similar to McGrath who's played plenty of footy

 

[ant555]

If he came into the side off the back of a full pre season and a full top age season in TAC and had played 15 VFL games I would have issues. They are playing him but he simply has not had the conditioning and games in the last two years to be even close to showing his best. His situation is almost the same as those who missed their top age year due to Covid. He needs a full season of uninterrupted footy before he can assessed one way or the other. Has a lot of areas he needs to be better in but has not had the chance to be physically ready to be his best. I will say that his efforts to actually be in a position to make tackles has improved 500%.

 

[Vindicater]

Now you mention it, there is a bit of Danger about him. The way he takes possession in a contest and runs away to put it on the boot.

Another loopy, zero penetration kicker of the baller...great. Just great.

Two posts in a row seperated by a loss.

Kid is in his third game.

 

[ghostdog]

Two posts in a row seperated by a loss.

Kid is in his third game.

There was a breeze coming from the orange cheersquad end that resulted in a lot of loopy looking kicks, for what that's worth.

 

[Beerfish]

Tsatas always looks rushed and awkward with the footy,

So would you if you were playing in this side atm.