Player Watch #11: David Zaharakis - Deep cut to his knee, infected, may miss Good Friday - 16/4

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Did a couple of classy things tonight, but some of his chases were very, very disappointing. As a fresh sub, you would expect him to give 110% when chasing, but he wasn't hungry tonight, and that one instance where Dempsey was giving his all and Zaka was just jogging, it made me sick. Hopefully he's better for the run......go Dons!
Probably lacked a bit of match fitness and maybe he was favoring his injured leg a little. Did enough I'd say but we should be expecting more from a player like him. At least we have two weeks to get some kilometers under his belt.
 

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Donakebab

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That chase through the middle looked really bad, he was fresh legs and still got blown away by Mackay. Gave him the benefit of the doubt that he didn't go 100% for fear of tweaking his quad again, but that in itself just says he shouldn't have played.
 

BrunoV

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Looked horribly short of the condition required to start in the 21. I'm not sure how he will be any better next week for a run as sub although, with no reserves match, I suppose there was simply no other option.
 

EFC 1871

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http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2013-03-24/zaharakis-set-for-more-vfl-action.workstation
Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis is set to line up in Essendon's VFL practice match on Friday morning against Sandringham.

Zaharakis wore the green vest as the Bombers substitute in Friday night's Round 1 win against the Crows in just his second match back following a quad injury.

'I had only played one week in the twos before I played on Friday night so I was probably still a bit underdone so Hirdy said wear the green vest,' Zaharakis said on Channel Seven.

'We have got the week off this week before Round 2 so I might play another game in the VFL to get as match fit as I can and then hopefully I don't have to wear it again.'
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2013-03-24/zaharakis-set-for-more-vfl-action.workstation
 

vast

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oh well we got away with it at least this time and luckily there is a vfl game for him to play. Mike Sheahan was creaming himself on the post game show about his tackle on Petrenko, apparently a big zaka fan too.
 

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Surprising selection really, although apart from looking severly underdone he didn't play poorly.

I'm just happy we didn't have an early injury cause it could have cost us the game if he had to play 3 quarters.
 

The Jet

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That Sandringham game is all buggered up. If you look at the VFL website, It says Round 16 is before round 1. YET he only game this coming weekend is the 30th, not our VFL game. Out Sandringham vs Essendon still says an August match. Unless they have forgotten to change the dates for the other 6 or so VFL games on the fixtures page.
 

The Bomb

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I thought Zaka laid some awesome tackles, even in the highlights of the little VFL footage we got to see Zaka tackling.
We may see a real change in Zaharakis game this season, to my eye he has a real focus to tackle unlike previous years gone by.
just like it looks like Howlett has focused on his outside game and increasing his possession rate.
time will tell I guess.
 

daffo

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It just shows how much the coaching staff adore this kid. There wouldn't be many others that would get a game when they are that unfit.
He did a couple of nice things but was well below his best. He'll be better for the run and will play for us in round 2. Thankfully, he'll have a couple of weeks to build on his fitness.
 

The Bomb

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Get ready lady and Gents, Zaharakis is going to be elite by season end, opposition pay no attention to him as they focus on Watson and Stants and Zaka is going to go nuts from here on in. His game against Collingwood was awesome, Now we want more.
seriously tallented player who is now getting amongst the clearances, only twice he has had 6 or more clearance and now 6 in his last 2 games.
getting better and better every year he plays.
 

kelvin_sheedy

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I was a little harsh on him in the game on Friday because my expectations are super high but he's still short of getting to the required fitness level.... injury affected albeit.

Hopefully towards the end of this season he'll be seriously recognised within the AFL world. If he has a good pre-season next year then watch out. I had him becoming a very good player initially but he's on track to be elite.
 

yaco55

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Always rated Zaka along with Beams. At the end of their third season 2011, they were tracking neck and neck. Of course Beams raised his game and Zaka had an injury interrupted season. Now the shoe is on the other foot,with Beams yet to get on the park.
 
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