AFL Player 5: Elijah Tsatas

[Nuggs Bunny]

 

[TheGrizz]

Good pick. Was the No.1 guy up until the foot injury, so I'm happy to pick up someone like that at pick 5 every day of the week.

 

[The Prosecutor]

2 years ago I would never have dreamed that this kid could have been available to us. I know it’s not the popular pick but I’m stoked to get a kid I’ve invested so much time into.

An athletic midfielder with big upside, don’t think he plays much next year but will be a real weapon once his tank and strength are improved.

Still rememeber a post from 2020(?) when you were hyping him up specifically - you may have even been talking about the 2021 draft but how excited you were for him as a prospect in the 2022 crop.

Happy for you mate, hopefully the hype you had then is justified over the next 15 years.

 

[doug85]

Congratulations and welcome to the club!!

To every supporter, let's not have a sulk and ruin this thread with your uneducated opinion about who we should have got instead.

GIVE HIM THE CHANCE TO WIN THE RESPECT OF THE BOYS

 

[Mootsy]

his hilights remind me a bit of jobe w

 

[Hazardinho]

I can’t lie I was angry with the thought of Tsatas being drafted and was upset we passed on Phillipou. However id like to still welcome Tsatas to the club, hopefully he can be a superstar for us and change our fortunes.
Will be interesting how he goes in his first season, hopefully he kills it and works on his defensive application, and we might be in business.

 

[ant555]

We have an offensive jet. Now we just have to build a midfield to make the most use of him.

 

[andleanback]

2 years ago I would never have dreamed that this kid could have been available to us. I know it’s not the popular pick but I’m stoked to get a kid I’ve invested so much time into.

An athletic midfielder with big upside, don’t think he plays much next year but will be a real weapon once his tank and strength are improved.

Its popular amongst some of us

 

[MiguelM]

It's not who I would have gone with but hopefully the club has done all their due diligence and have picked a ripper.

We did, just like our 24hour CEO!

 

[Zach Package]

The Hellenic Hellraiser!

Get ready, Martin and Tsatas are going to be doing a ****load of swooping for the next decade.

 

[Highly Evolved]

Welcome to the EFC!

 

[Burzum]

Look at the size of those mitts

 

[DonsRule]

 

[wichidi]

Look at the size of those mitts

Kid looks all business already. Look at the game face.

 

[RearNaked]

Seems nerdy

 

[Old Campaigner]

Look at the size of those mitts

Hobbs is looking pretty thicc

 

[DonsRule]

 

[eth-dog]

Stoked for him. Stoked we have him.

Just all round stoked

 

[Lance Uppercut]

What a jet. Never doubted him. Guaranteed superstar.

 

[DonsRule]

 

[eDPS]

Was stoked to do his profile so here it is for you all, wouldn’t mind if you could give it a look on Rookie Me aswell but here is the full thing.

Elijah Tsatas

SNAPSHOT: “One of the most attacking midfielders in the draft Tsatas uses his speed and smarts to win plenty of the ball on the inside and outside”

Elijah Tsatas has been a highly rated prospect for ahwile now with selection in SSA squads and some strong performances in 16s pre-season games, 17s Vic Metro and even a debut as a 16 year old for Oakleighs under 19 side last year. Tsatas has spent a lot of his time either as a stoppage midfielder or running wingman and has excelled at both roles.

Tsatas started the year in ripping form with some strong results in the pre-season testing and some big games for Oakleigh before APS started highlighted with a 42 disposal game against Eastern Ranges but a foot fracture during his game against Collingwood VFL for the AFL Academy ruled him out for 3 months missing a large chunk of the National Championships but would make a strong return through APS team Wesley with a 3 goal game followed by a 37 disposal and 10 clearance game.

Tsatas’s return to NAB League couldn’t have been better with a dominant display against eventual premiers Sandringham with a stacked midfield including Will Ashcroft, Cam Mackenzie and Olli Hotton finishing with 38 disposals and 13 inside 50s and would back that up with a 34 disposal game against Bendigo in Oakleighs last game as the Oakleigh Vice Captain gave his all in a losing effort.

The natural ball winner would finally get to play for Vic Metro and would end the game with 29 disposals and 5 clearances and was only 2 possession of Will Ashcroft who was the highest ball winner for the game. Tsatas wasn’t able to back up his strong pre-season testing at the National combine but was impressive in interviews with the well spoken charger embracing the pressure and understands the draft and how he may have to play interstate at the next level.


STRENGTHS:

• Speed
• Agility
• Vision
• Clean Hands
• Consistency
• Production

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Strength
• Tackling

There is no player in the draft who can spread from a stoppage quite like Tsatas can; Tsatas uses his elite speed often to escape congestion usually after pouncing on the ground ball. Tsatas is hard to stop when he hits a stoppage at pace and takes the ball cleanly so if a ruckman can tap it to his advantage you can almost bank on Tsatas getting to the ball first and then sending the ball inside 50.
The Speed of Tsatas has been used to great effect whether on the inside or outside and formed a great partnership with teammate George Wardlaw on a few occasions this year with Wardlaw going the grunt work and Tsatas capitalising on the outside. That speed and agility combo will always bring attention to Tsatas so there is certainly no shortage of pressure whenever Tsatas goes for the ball because if you give him an inch he will take a mile as he also doesn’t fumble the ball.
Tsatas has been Oakleigh’s top possession winner in every game he has played and beaten only twice by the opposition top ball winner so its safe to say Tsatas has no problem winning the ball. Whether its winning his own ball when he goes to stoppages, leading to space around the ground on sweeping on the loose ball he has many avenues to winning the ball using his football smarts and natural ability despite having a rather low endurance based compared to others in this years crop.
Of course being Oakleighs top possession winner every game Tsatas has been very consistent this year averaging 33.8 disposals and not far behind Will Ashcroft who averaged 34.5 disposals. Ashcroft wins more contested ball as a more permanent midfielder but although Tsatas plays a more outside role he isnt just a receiver and wont hesitate to attack a loose ball at speed but his lighter frame makes it harder for him to play a more contested style to enhance his best attributes when playing in the centre.

Skills wise Tsatas certainly hits more targets than he misses and by hand he can be very clean and weight them well and to teammates advantage and this is what could see him have a great career as a more inside player especially with his speed and clean hands at stoppages. Kicking on the other hand could use some improvement with a lack of penetration at times and he tends to kick it off one step after marks which can loop up and put his teammates under pressure but kicking inside 50 he often kicks to advantage and makes the right decisions so there is certainly no big concern but overall could be better.
The one big area for Tsatas to improve at the next level is his defensive running and tackling only averaging 1.3 tackles a game which is rather poor for a midfielder but not uncommon for a pure winger but it is certainly an area to improve with pressure becoming more important with each year. Tsatas will use his speed with ball in hand but doesn’t push as hard to put pressure on and it may come down to that lower endurance base compared to the likes of Ashcroft but you could argue Tsatas would be a more well rounded player winning 5 disposals less but averaging 3 more tackles per game.


DRAFT RANGE: 1-5
SUMMARY:
Despite missing 3 months of football in an important period Tsatas remains a big chance to be one of the first selected in this years draft, standing at 186cm and possessing elite speed and a good leap and couple that with his natural football ability and production its hard to ignore Tsatas in the top 5 picks in this years draft. There is also some upside with Tsatas as he is the least readymade out of the top mids and with an interrupted year who knows how much better he could have gone.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Certainly had other preferences but now he's here I'm on board. Welcome aboard Peter Matera

Peter Matera

Age

56

Ht

183cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.8

5star

K

14.0

5star

HB

4.9

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.4

4star

G

0.9

4star

No current season stats available

D

12.2

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.6

3star

G

0.6

3star

2.0.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Certainly had other preferences but now he's here I'm on board. Welcome aboard Peter Matera 2.0.

Same.

And at least if he’s a downhill skier he’s very very good at skiing

 

[Hazardinho]

I think I’m gonna nickname him smartas (smart arse)

 

[Inspecta Gadget]

The T is silent.

Just like all the flogs who doubt this pick will be in a couple of years time.

 

[naraku]

His two " improvements " are what we desperately lack.

Just hope he turns into a 200 gamer that wins a flag with us and wasn't just " safe".

Seems a likeable kid.