AFL Player 5: Elijah Tsatas

[Nuggs Bunny]

 

[Milanista28]

If we aren't sold on him and/or we believe we are covered in his position we probably should've traded him for points to match a Sweid bid, Tsatas out, likely gives us the points needed and the list spot to match that bid.

 

[thebigboy]

If we aren't sold on him and/or we believe we are covered in his position we probably should've traded him for points to match a Sweid bid, Tsatas out, likely gives us the points needed and the list spot to match that bid.

I don't think there was any firm interest/offers for him during the period

 

[Milanista28]

I don't think there was any firm interest/offers for him during the period

Maybe yeah, reckon he suits a Collingwood side, maybe Adelaide who struggle out of the center.

 

[Don Won]

If we aren't sold on him and/or we believe we are covered in his position we probably should've traded him for points to match a Sweid bid, Tsatas out, likely gives us the points needed and the list spot to match that bid.

I don't think there was any firm interest/offers for him during the period

He explored his options… and didn’t have any.

 

[thebigboy]

Maybe yeah, reckon he suits a Collingwood side, maybe Adelaide who struggle out of the center.

Collingwood would have been an interesting fit, but they seem to be wanting to change their midfield profile.

Unfortunately with the way that the game seems to be moving, he's a fair chance of being out of the league in 2027.

 

[King Patty]

Collingwood would have been an interesting fit, but they seem to be wanting to change their midfield profile.

Unfortunately with the way that the game seems to be moving, he's a fair chance of being out of the league in 2027.

He is miles away at the moment from a chance at the pies.

He would need a Mack McGough type Anzac day performance to get on Collingwoods radar ahead of internal guys like Demattia.

A Hard at it Wardlaw type would be a better combo with Daicos than Tsatas.

I thought they might look at Hobbs last year too.

 

[thebigboy]

He is miles away at the moment from a chance at the pies.

He would need a Mack McGough type Anzac day performance to get on Collingwoods radar ahead of internal guys like Demattia.

A Hard at it Wardlaw type would be a better combo with Daicos than Tsatas.

I thought they might look at Hobbs last year too.

Absolutely, Wardlaw is a far better fit and better player. I just don't see him leaving North.

The off-season for Tsatas should be fundamentally different than last years. Being out of contract and theoretically available for very little might change his market. Hopefully I'm wrong and he goes on to break into our team, plays well and earns a contract.

 

[FootyGuru]

Absolutely, Wardlaw is a far better fit and better player. I just don't see him leaving North.

The off-season for Tsatas should be fundamentally different than last years. Being out of contract and theoretically available for very little might change his market. Hopefully I'm wrong and he goes on to break into our team, plays well and earns a contract.

Is there anything wrong with him remaining on our list but not a best 22 player. Pure inside mids are sort of like ruckman, it’s good to have a decent back up. I could see tsatas come in for parish and play very similar roles and games

 

[faible]

Is there anything wrong with him remaining on our list but not a best 22 player. Pure inside mids are sort of like ruckman, it’s good to have a decent back up. I could see tsatas come in for parish and play very similar roles and games

It's just the opportunity cost really.

If someone doesn't offer us anything in a trade, then it's what he costs in salary and a list spot versus an alternative option. List sizes aren't really big enough to carry players that you know aren't really up to the level needed for long, and we've seen that players via the SSP (Martin) or MSD (Durham) can be genuine AFL standard players, so the list spots do matter.

 

[Petrify]

I don't think there was any firm interest/offers for him during the period

North are somewhat interested in him but there was no way we'd accept anything they would've offered (late draft picks). Think they're happy to just wait until he's delisted

 

[ant555]

North are somewhat interested in him but there was no way we'd accept anything they would've offered (late draft picks). Think they're happy to just wait until he's delisted

I have no inside info on this so I would certainly not say anyone saying it is wrong, but Tsatas is a polar opposite to the players Clarkson has preferred in the past.

 

[MiguelM]

North are somewhat interested in him but there was no way we'd accept anything they would've offered (late draft picks). Think they're happy to just wait until he's delisted

That surprises me. North have too many midfielders already IMO.

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

The overlooking of Phillpou becomes more of a disaster. Another Dodo special a year after Hobbs. FMD

If we're going to lament missed picks in that draft, I would much rather Bailey Humphrey over both

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

Seems like a fine guy but probably the worst draft pick made by the club this century. He is more likely to get delisted than fetch a third at this stage.

Scott Gumbleton was still this century.

 

[FootyGuru]

Tsatas isn’t as bad as people are making out. If we chose to give him the entire season to play midfield. He’d probably average high 20 possies and 7+clearances. Most posters would say “Told ya he’s good, he just needed the chance to play”. Other posters would look at his tackling numbers and how he’s covering defensively and in stoppage.

The same thing is happening with parish now. Some posters are claiming he’s back and people will eat their words on their hate, but the reality is we wanna see his hardness, and defensive running/ stoppage work improved. There were signs in the practice match but it’s a practice match.

I just feel we can’t truly compete with both of these guys in our midfield week in week out. Scott probably thinking the same. Unless of course they both improve their weaknesses.

I expect tsatas to put up astronomical numbers at vfl level and hope he plays if we get an injury to parish/caldwell.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

I reckon he plays vs. St Kilda, leads the game for possessions and starts round 1.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Tsatas isn’t as bad as people are making out. If we chose to give him the entire season to play midfield. He’d probably average high 20 possies and 7+clearances. Most posters would say “Told ya he’s good, he just needed the chance to play”. Other posters would look at his tackling numbers and how he’s covering defensively and in stoppage.

The same thing is happening with parish now. Some posters are claiming he’s back and people will eat their words on their hate, but the reality is we wanna see his hardness, and defensive running/ stoppage work improved. There were signs in the practice match but it’s a practice match.

I just feel we can’t truly compete with both of these guys in our midfield week in week out. Scott probably thinking the same. Unless of course they both improve their weaknesses.

I expect tsatas to put up astronomical numbers at vfl level and hope he plays if we get an injury to parish/caldwell.

Reckon he’ll been judged purely on his disposal, two-way running and defensive acts. Nothing else (disposals, clearances) really matters - they’re a given and as you point out, we have players ahead of him who match him in that area anyway.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Tsatas isn’t as bad as people are making out. If we chose to give him the entire season to play midfield. He’d probably average high 20 possies and 7+clearances. Most posters would say “Told ya he’s good, he just needed the chance to play”. Other posters would look at his tackling numbers and how he’s covering defensively and in stoppage.

The same thing is happening with parish now. Some posters are claiming he’s back and people will eat their words on their hate, but the reality is we wanna see his hardness, and defensive running/ stoppage work improved. There were signs in the practice match but it’s a practice match.

I just feel we can’t truly compete with both of these guys in our midfield week in week out. Scott probably thinking the same. Unless of course they both improve their weaknesses.

I expect tsatas to put up astronomical numbers at vfl level and hope he plays if we get an injury to parish/caldwell.

Doubt it. It was reported not much interest from other clubs. They’re not playing him for a reason ..shit load of injuries slats season and he could barely get a game. Plus we’ve had other players have a number of possessions in vfl but couldn’t take the next step. Hope he makes it but you make it sound like we’re deliberately not selecting a good player

 

[NAB777]

Scott Gumbleton was still this century.

Gumbleton wasn't a poor pick.

 

[FootyGuru]

Doubt it. It was reported not much interest from other clubs. They’re not playing him for a reason ..shit load of injuries slats season and he could barely get a game. Plus we’ve had other players have a number of possessions in vfl but couldn’t take the next step. Hope he makes it but you make it sound like we’re deliberately not selecting a good player

he played round 1 and until he got injured.

But regardless, I don’t think you have understood my post based on the reply you have given.

 

[ant555]

Pretty simple IMO.
If he can improve the endurance level and get a lot more outside run in his game along with competing harder more consistently and being better defensively then he gets a look in.
Obviously, it would be good if he could get his kicking to a more consistent level, it would be better as well, but what is holding him back is we did not just draft him to get 30 touches by firing out handballs at clearance. We can run 2 or 3 blokes through there that can do that and they give more output in areas that so far Tsatas has not.
Time is now. 2026 is no longer the year of maybe he can do it.

 

[FootyGuru]

Pretty simple IMO.
If he can improve the endurance level and get a lot more outside run in his game along with competing harder more consistently and being better defensively then he gets a look in.
Obviously, it would be good if he could get his kicking to a more consistent level, it would be better as well, but what is holding him back is we did not just draft him to get 30 touches by firing out handballs at clearance. We can run 2 or 3 blokes through there that can do that and they give more output in areas that so far Tsatas has not.
Time is now. 2026 is no longer the year of maybe he can do it.

Setterfeild keeps getting offered lifelines.

Do we need to see tsatas in the afl us to find out whether he can improve those areas?

I just don’t see many spots in afl sides for inside mids and maybe he continues to add to his game in the vfl for a season, waiting for his opportunity.

Why can’t we shift tsatas in the back up mid role that setterfield is being payed to fill this season.

Tsatas isn’t the only inside mid languishing in the reserves, most clubs have them, and maybe we use it as a specialist role like a ruckman.

 

[ant555]

Setterfeild keeps getting offered lifelines.

Do we need to see tsatas in the afl us to find out whether he can improve those areas?

I just don’t see many spots in afl sides for inside mids and maybe he continues to add to his game in the vfl for a season, waiting for his opportunity.

Why can’t we shift tsatas in the back up mid role that setterfield is being payed to fill this season.

Tsatas isn’t the only inside mid languishing in the reserves, most clubs have them, and maybe we use it as a specialist role like a ruckman.

I did not want to keep Setterfield either.
If Tsatas has not improved his deficient areas by the end of this season, then it is time to move on.
Find the next guy.
We do not need a backup midfielder with one trick.

 

[faible]

Setterfeild keeps getting offered lifelines.

Do we need to see tsatas in the afl us to find out whether he can improve those areas?

I just don’t see many spots in afl sides for inside mids and maybe he continues to add to his game in the vfl for a season, waiting for his opportunity.

Why can’t we shift tsatas in the back up mid role that setterfield is being payed to fill this season.

Tsatas isn’t the only inside mid languishing in the reserves, most clubs have them, and maybe we use it as a specialist role like a ruckman.

Setterfield is much more naturally defensive and physical than Tsatas, if Tsatas had that element to his game he'd probably have played a lot more.

I'm not sure to what extent he can change how he plays, he seems like he genuinely works hard on his deficiencies so the hope would be he can turn himself in to a player that fills a role for us at AFL level.

 

[Milanista28]

If Tsatas can use his legs a little more and drive from stoppage he'll hit more targets by hand and foot.