AFL Player # 5: Elijah Tsatas

[TheGrizz]

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

 

[Foxx]

Tzatziki the nickname we're going with?

Only if he has a dip.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Think we've got a winner here but really we were just spoilt for choice at our pick.

I hope for a new look midfield going forward - Hobbs, Tsatas, Caldwell should be the backbone of it for years to come.

Hopefully 2023 yields that elusive BBMTM!

 

[FlyingV]

Dear Elijah, running both ways is overrated. Please go all out attack all game. Look forward never look back. Yolo.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

I guess we know who goes pick 1 in the keeper league then.

Yeah, gonna go with my heart this year.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

Dusty Martin, Bontempelli and Dangerfield never tackle.

 

[eDPS]

Apparently Tsatas in his under 16’s just before covid hit, was actually a contested inside player. I think he had a collarbone injury, and was then forced into the wing where he developed an outside game. Apparently he’s lost a bit of confidence going hard at the football, in fear of his injury and hence the low tackle numbers, plus his foot injury this year.

Well yeah I just said this in this thread so can vouch!

 

[outersanctum]

Has the feel of a 'Selwood' pick for me.. was widely seen as a potential #1 pick only 2-3 years ago.. was still seen as a top 3 pick even after the collarbone.. and then had another injury this year.. but was a jet either side of the injury. Could be the best pick of the draft. Very high hopes and brings some much need real speed for our midfield.

 

[JDavey]

Dusty Martin, Bontempelli and Dangerfield never tackle.

Bonts averaged 5 a game for years lol.

 

[Petrify]

Watched his highlights and his kicking seems to be pretty poor but otherwise a weapon.

 

[andleanback]

Watched his highlights and his kicking seems to be pretty poor but otherwise a weapon.

Kicking can be improved with the right development. Just look at oliver.

 

[Beerfish]

And Clarke.

 

[Howard Moon]

Our 2025 midfield is coming together nicely.

Hobbs and Caldwell the grunt.
Tsatas the speed and power.
Perkins the class.

Next year we grab the defensive blocker.

always next year...

been next year for about ten years

 

[Don Won]

Kicking can be improved with the right development. Just look at oliver.

To me his poor disposal looked like a mind-set error of ‘get it forward’ rather than a technical deficiency.

You should never go faster than you can see.

 

[andleanback]

To me his poor disposal looked like a mind-set error of ‘get it forward’ rather than a technical deficiency.

You should never go faster than you can see.

Yeh I think that can easily be coached out of him in an afl system. His technic and ball drop are fine most of the time and does have the ability to hit those 20-25m bullet spot up kicks.

 

[citizen-erased]

Kicking can be improved with the right development. Just look at oliver.

overrated skill too. look at most Brownlow medallists this century.

 

[andleanback]

overrated skill too. look at most Brownlow medallists this century.

Kicking is definitely not an overrated skill when you’re a run and carry player.

 

[citizen-erased]

Kicking is definitely not an overrated skill when you’re a run and carry player.

I forgot my facetious font
im super critical when the Brownlow goes to players with poor disposal and make their mark through power over skill.

Pendles is the example I give of the most unlucky guy in that regard over the past 10 years.
give me sublime foot skills over power running and booting it forward.

 

[citizen-erased]

always next year...

been next year for about ten years

slow is the ox or something like that according to Mick

Changing of the guard for mine, and if the tank is ready we may see Tsatas line up on the opposite wing to Martin.

lets see what the next pick shakes loose.
Setterfield has the chance to be the big inside mid for the now. hopefully we get another one for the future tonight

 

[calyam]

Apparently Tsatas in his under 16’s just before covid hit, was actually a contested inside player. I think he had a collarbone injury, and was then forced into the wing where he developed an outside game. Apparently he’s lost a bit of confidence going hard at the football, in fear of his injury and hence the low tackle numbers, plus his foot injury this year.

Injury prone, scared of getting hurt and lacking confidence. This paragraph has my expectations for next year firmly in check.

 

[Booplaz]

Apparently Tsatas in his under 16’s just before covid hit, was actually a contested inside player. I think he had a collarbone injury, and was then forced into the wing where he developed an outside game. Apparently he’s lost a bit of confidence going hard at the football, in fear of his injury and hence the low tackle numbers, plus his foot injury this year.
From what’s being said by draft experts is, the general draft watcher hasn’t seen what the experts who have watched Tsatas in person Is capable of. Apparently he was the number 1 consensus pick last year and was better than Ashcroft and Wardlaw.
If you factor in Tsatas’s physique, he’s got really good scope to fill out his shoulders and obviously is still growing at 187cm.

Let’s hope so. Thought there was a pretty noticeable difference between the speed he attacked a loose ball as opposed to a contest or the opposition at times this year. Also struggle to give much weight to underage performances. Look at where Lemmey, Ryan, Szybowski and Broadbent were rated in comparison to Cadman, Humphrey, Phillipou and Mackenzie at the start of the year. Top age form is all that really matters.

 

[Pweter]

Personally I'm prepared to see how he turns out after some time in a professional football environment before I crack it about what he may or may not end up doing/being.

Good luck to the kid, with the pile on the Dons fans give to our own players he's likely going to need it.

 

[Westlo]

Top age form is all that really matters.

Agreed.

I guess it’s a good thing his top end form had him considered a top 3 prospect for the majority of his top age year, he won a best and fairest while missing 3 months, went inside mid in the national final and got 30+ touches and had leather poisoning with the amount of touches he racked up.

Or doesn’t this count for some reason? Keep moving those goalposts.

 

[citizen-erased]

Personally I'm prepared to see how he turns out after some time in a professional football environment before I crack it about what he may or may not end up doing/being.

Good luck to the kid, with the pile on the Dons fans give to our own players he's likely going to need it.

doubt very much we throw him straight into the inside mix rd.1 too.
might find it's use the tank and play on a wing or HF for a bit and use the pace and line breaking to effect there.

will have time a la Perkins to build the physical endurance required to play on-ball full time.
meantime, midfield is still ok with Merrett, parish, Shiel & setterfield in there

 

[boncer34]

And Clarke.

That's the spirit you glass half empty mean spirited jerky mckjerkface prick

 

[brain taylor]

happy to have him, i don't mind the club taking 'best available' players with our first pick, the thing that irks me is overlooking the glut of guys available at later picks who fit needs.