Retired #11: David Zaharakis - Survivin'

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent 2021
Last Game Played: Round 19, 2021 (omit)
Injury Status: n/a

 

[eth-dog]

Drop Kommer and make him tag Walker then Houli then Houli/Shaw/Pittard in the next 3 weeks as a development curve. If we win the final make him tag Duffield/Malceski/Birchall/Mackie the following week.

 

[BrunoV]

I'm not entirely convinced that any of the game's elite midfielders are two way runners. Ultimately everyone falls back to be part of a zone but attacking players tend to run hard offensively while defensive players run hard defensively (and both tend to tread water in the middle of the ground).

The ability of some of Sydney's players to at least appear as "box to box" players is quite unique. Playing on a post stamp of a ground may help.

The idea that you should be able to sprint 150m forward and then turn around and sprint 150m back with the same speed and intensity is a bit of a nonsense anyway.

 

[m7jebus]

I'm not entirely convinced that any of the game's elite midfielders are two way runners. Ultimately everyone falls back to be part of a zone but attacking players tend to run hard offensively while defensive players run hard defensively (and both tend to tread water in the middle of the ground).

The ability of some of Sydney's players to at least appear as "box to box" players is quite unique. Playing on a post stamp of a ground may help.

The idea that you should be able to sprint 150m forward and then turn around and sprint 150m back with the same speed and intensity is a bit of a nonsense anyway.

That would be all well and good if Zaharakis was an elite player. He is not, and it's the lack of workrate that stands in his way.

Yes, quality playmaking midfielders typically lack defensive output, but that's because the best of them work so hard in attack - instantly on their bike to spread, to make the overlap, to break the lines and get behind the press, to get in and win the disputed ball, etc. Zaharakis has a habit of only turning it on when there's an easy kick available, and that's not just recently. The last two weeks have been terrible, he's saved all his running for the cheapies. If that's down to fitness, he shouldn't be playing.

We all know what Zaka is capable of. I love watching him when he really brings it, but he's got loads of work to do if he's ever going be that elite game-breaker for us.

 

[BrunoV]

So because he isn't elite he is chasing kicks but if he was elite he would be running hard forward? Next argument please.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

I'm not entirely convinced that any of the game's elite midfielders are two way runners.

Bartel, perhaps, but he has a particular role that facilitates it. Certainly the defensive mindset runs throughout the Sydney midfield as you've noted, and also did so at St Kilda under Lyon.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

I'd like to judge him when he's fit.

 

[srobbo]

It's more a lack of Zaka's and Stant's 2nd & 3rd phase efforts in a passage of play, whether we are moving forward or defensively that is killing us. Their 1st efforts is fine, but it's the endeavour to repeat it, if ball is still in dispute that is absent.

Is Stanton injured? I mean he's meant to be an elite runner is he not? I'm seeing plenty of symmetry in his workrate fluctuations over the last 2-3 years.

Someone like Melksham on the other hand has improved noticeably in this area and is really having an impact on games.

 

[Zach Package]

Even if stants is carrying a niggle of some sort which is pretty likely, he still covers an insane amount of ground.

I don't think you can ever question his efforts

 

[JDavey]

Well he played an incredibly average game but capped it off with a clutch goal and many people will ultimately forgive his poor defensive efforts, again. He is such a front runner it hurts at times to watch him play.

 

[Synth]

Well he played an incredibly average game but capped it off with a clutch goal and many people will ultimately forgive his poor defensive efforts, again. He is such a front runner it hurts at times to watch him play.

Yep not his best game by the standards he has set himself, but fact of the matter is he could do what 22 chokers in navy blue couldn't.

 

[ZaharakisFTW]

Well he played an incredibly average game but capped it off with a clutch goal and many people will ultimately forgive his poor defensive efforts, again. He is such a front runner it hurts at times to watch him play.

very harsh imo.
yeah wasnt great for the first 3 quarters but turned it on when it really counted, 11 touches in the last and of course dat goal.

 

[Rack Watts]

I actually saw quite a few defensive runs tonight, could have ran forwards, ran back.

 

[Zephyr Effekt]

Should be played on a HHF when carrying injuries/out of form, not good enough to play full-time midfield in these situations.

 

[Bark Maguley]

@DavidZaharakis
What a win!!! These are the feelings you can't describe.. Love this footy club and playing with these boys! @Essendon_FC

wants to leave /10

 

[OzBomber]

Zaaaaka. It's unbelievable how much he loves this club. Can always step up even when it's not his night. He was brilliant in the final quarter.

 

[Coldacre]

he may be a downhill skier, but there's no one else in our side I'd rather have with the pill in his hands with less than a minute on the clock.

he must give Malthouse nightmares

 

[George Washington]

Needs some variety in clutch goal celebrations.

 

[Rack Watts]

I thought that when I saw it too!

 

[eth-dog]

Needs some variety in clutch goal celebrations.

Jobe always does the same one too

 

[Highly Evolved]

I actually saw quite a few defensive runs tonight, could have ran forwards, ran back.

Was definitely running both ways last night, which was really good to see. If he does it more consistently then he wil become a complete player.

Well he played an incredibly average game but capped it off with a clutch goal and many people will ultimately forgive his poor defensive efforts, again. He is such a front runner it hurts at times to watch him play.

I agree that his game was average, but I thought his defenive efforts were a lot better than usual. I can forgive him if he can keep sealing games though haha (But in all seriousness, I would much prefer him to reach his potential by playing two-way football on a consistent basis).

 

[Rack Watts]

11 Possession, 4 clearance final quarter with a game winning goal.
Standing up when it matters is a good game to me.

 

[JDavey]

11 Possession, 4 clearance final quarter with a game winning goal.
Standing up when it matters is a good game to me.

I bet his disposal efficiency was 30-45% at best.

 

[eth-dog]

I bet his disposal efficiency was 30-45% at best.

lol. He was fantastic

 

[Autobahn]

Jobe always does the same one too

The next big time goal should be celebrated like this.

 

[ProfessorGaz]

Yep not his best game by the standards he has set himself, but fact of the matter is he could do what 22 chokers in navy blue couldn't.

I swear the entire Carltank list has smoker's cough.