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

 

[Zach Package]

Apparently destroying match sim playing on ball.

 

[ant555]

Apparently destroying match sim playing on ball.

Well I got flamed for using match sim as any sort of form guide last year when it came to best 23.
From several reports he was very good and his kicking was okay without being anything special from what my tack man says. He has always had the ability to be a jet when it comes to winning the footy. That was never going to be an issue. What we need to see is if he is going to be Micheal Symons or Adam Treloar or he really does get a handle on his kicking.

 

[Foxx]

Anything is possible. I remember Brent Stanton went from one of our worst kicks to one of our best kicks.
Although he could always kick 50 meters.

 

[SydneyBomber]

I remember Brent Stanton went from one of our worst kicks to one of our best kicks.

 

[boncer34]

Apparently destroying match sim playing on ball.

It's only against Essendon.

 

[fairbump_playon]

I’ve been pro Tsatas all along - believe he will both make it and be a point of difference for us

Tsatas will still have clangers because mechanical habits die hard but I believe he is a good decision maker who knows where he wants to ball to go. That will help a lot. A few of our average guys like Parish and Shiel are very average in the planning as well as the execution, they just dump forward without feel.

 

[Zach Package]

It's only against Essendon.

Parish didn’t play and Merrett played half back.

Only big boys in there now, no puny little manlets

 

[faible]

If Tsatas can develop a taste for contact, he's got the frame and the hands to be a clearance machine.

 

[Foxx]

If Tsatas can develop a taste for contact, he's got the frame and the hands to be a clearance machine.

Yes, but all the rule changes mean midfielders now have to also have an outside game.

 

[FlyingV]

If Tsatas can develop a taste for contact, he's got the frame and the hands to be a clearance machine.

Would be great if he developed that, but it’s not his game. He’s first to react, get the footy and spit out a sharp handle ball or boot the ball for meters gained off a few steps. He’s quick and uses his strength to protect ball drop space at the content more so then having guys hang off him Jobe Watson style.

 

[faible]

Would be great if he developed that, but it’s not his game. He’s first to react, get the footy and spit out a sharp handle ball or boot the ball for meters gained off a few steps. He’s quick and uses his strength to protect ball drop space at the content more so then having guys hang off him Jobe Watson style.

Arguably he's been OK with contact when playing in the VFL. I wouldn't say he's avoiding it.

I don't think he's a Joel Selwood, but he's also not running away from the opposition. Perhaps as he gains size and strength he'll back himself more and more in close. His hands are fantastic.

 

[yodellinhank]

If Tsatas can develop a taste for contact, he's got the frame and the hands to be a clearance machine.

At will

 

[eth-dog]

Last season, he averaged 30.8 disposals, 4 tackles and 7 clearances a game in the VFL. He got to spend time in his preferred position and he showed his ability to win the ball inside. Full pre-season, starting to dominate the match sim. Hopefully gets the chance to play early in his preferred position.

 

[chambo00]

Last season, he averaged 30.8 disposals, 4 tackles and 7 clearances a game in the VFL. He got to spend time in his preferred position and he showed his ability to win the ball inside. Full pre-season, starting to dominate the match sim. Hopefully gets the chance to play early in his preferred position.

From memory he was very impressive in match sim in his first preseason before the knee injury. Lets hope he gets a go in his preferred position at AFL level and not stuck on a wing.

 

[Call Me Cake]

If a player was getting the ball as much as he was in another side they would've earned a game. No doubt about it.