AFL Player # 5: Elijah Tsatas

[TheGrizz]

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

 

[crackers65]

Be best 22 by year 1 is outrageous, not every player is Sam Walsh or nick daicos walking through the door. Some of the best needed years in the system to develop

This is his third year. As pick 5 he needs to get a lot better, quickly, or is he just another high draft pick to Essendon who is no good?

 

[boncer34]

Uppercut yourself if you say he should be tagging.

 

[faible]

This is his third year. As pick 5 he needs to get a lot better, quickly, or is he just another high draft pick to Essendon who is no good?

He's an inside mid who missed a lot of his U18 year and his first year at the club.

Think of him as a second year player; if he gets through the season unscathed and plays a few AFL games in his preferred spot that's a win.

Plenty of inside mids take a bit of time to build their bodies; Cripps and Oliver doing it in their 2nd year is a bit unusual. Players with a strong outside game like Daicos or Sheezel can play off a flank instead of waiting for the body to develop to play on the inside.

He's 3 year younger than Durham for comparison, Durham only really stepped it up last year at 22, Tsatas will be 20.

 

[Keystone agony]

Be best 22 by year 1 is outrageous, not every player is Sam Walsh or nick daicos walking through the door. Some of the best needed years in the system to develop

2018
Walsh️
Lukosius️
Rankine️
King️
Rozee️

2019
Rowell️
Anderson️
Jackson️
Ash ️
Dylan Stephens ️ wasnt best 22 and looks a failure at a 2nd club already

2020 - Covid

2021
JHF ️
Naicos ️
F.Callaghan - Injury
Other 2 x 205cm

2022
Ashcroft ️
Wardlaw️
Sheezel️
Tsatas ️
200cm

2023
H.Reid️
Mckercher️
Duursma ️
200cm
Watson ️


3/20 havnt (Tsatas, Dyl Stephens being 2)

Facts dont lie

 

[faible]

Bomber blow: No.5 draft pick to undergo knee surgery

Elijah Tsatas will undergo surgery on his knee in a blow for the Bombers

www.afl.com.au

Pretty tough to be best 22 when you're injured before the season starts.

But hey.

 

[Rick Ross]

As resident moderator here -

This is pretty compelling -

2018
Walsh️
Lukosius️
Rankine️
King️
Rozee️

2019
Rowell️
Anderson️
Jackson️
Ash ️
Dylan Stephens ️ wasnt best 22 and looks a failure at a 2nd club already

2020 - Covid

2021
JHF ️
Naicos ️
F.Callaghan - Injury
Other 2 x 205cm

2022
Ashcroft ️
Wardlaw️
Sheezel️
Tsatas ️
200cm

2023
H.Reid️
Mckercher️
Duursma ️
200cm
Watson ️


3/20 havnt (Tsatas, Dyl Stephens being 2)

Facts dont lie

Based upon the literal (best 22 in year 1)… injury means that was never possible…

Bomber blow: No.5 draft pick to undergo knee surgery

Elijah Tsatas will undergo surgery on his knee in a blow for the Bombers

www.afl.com.au

Pretty tough to be best 22 when you're injured before the season starts.

But hey.

But less literal… he wasn’t beat 22 in year 2 either (no injury).

If he’s not best by season end I think it’s pretty fair to call it disappointing drafting / development.

 

[Duckworth]

Bomber blow: No.5 draft pick to undergo knee surgery

Elijah Tsatas will undergo surgery on his knee in a blow for the Bombers

www.afl.com.au

Pretty tough to be best 22 when you're injured before the season starts.

But hey.

I thought that was this year for a second... Damn my passive reading.

 

[JayJ20]

Bomber blow: No.5 draft pick to undergo knee surgery

Elijah Tsatas will undergo surgery on his knee in a blow for the Bombers

www.afl.com.au

Pretty tough to be best 22 when you're injured before the season starts.

But hey.

Please don't do me like that.

I thought that was from today and was soooo disappointed. Then I wondered why they would report about Stringer and Redman's scuffle before it made sense.

 

[ant555]

2018
Walsh️
Lukosius️
Rankine️
King️
Rozee️

2019
Rowell️
Anderson️
Jackson️
Ash ️
Dylan Stephens ️ wasnt best 22 and looks a failure at a 2nd club already

2020 - Covid

2021
JHF ️
Naicos ️
F.Callaghan - Injury
Other 2 x 205cm

2022
Ashcroft ️
Wardlaw️
Sheezel️
Tsatas ️
200cm

2023
H.Reid️
Mckercher️
Duursma ️
200cm
Watson ️


3/20 havnt (Tsatas, Dyl Stephens being 2)

Facts dont lie

Tsatas did have a knee injury to recover from in his first pre season on top of missing 3 months of his top age year at under 18 level. His first year was always going to be a write off. He did not play VFL until round 11.
I have plenty of question marks as far as he goes but his first year was killed by injury.
His second year was killed by not being able to kick.

 

[Keystone agony]

Tsatas did have a knee injury to recover from in his first pre season on top of missing 3 months of his top age year at under 18 level. His first year was always going to be a write off. He did not play VFL until round 11.
I have plenty of question marks as far as he goes but his first year was killed by injury.
His second year was killed by not being able to kick.

Yep agree. I said youd almost want that by end of year 1, let alone start of year 2, let alone end of year 2. Every non KPP there will be best 22 by round 1 in their 2nd year. The 2 that wernt... Dylan Stephens (Sydney), Tsatas (Essendon)

Its not to say he wont make it, as i said i will be surprised if he doesnt get 100+ games and that im not saying he wont. All im saying is hes behind the 8 ball which is proven above

Hes great at getting the ball, but if you cant use it then there is very little point on getting it on the outside. Which if his kicking doesnt improve then he will need a Plan B in role that doesnt rely on drastically improved use