AFL Player 5: Elijah Tsatas

[Nuggs Bunny]

 

[Happyskeret]

The rationale of why we selected Tsatas was explained today by Daniel McPherson.

The theory is that players who can regularly get big numbers/ find the footy, generally continue to do so once they get onto an AFL list.

With Tsatas, they see a powerful mid who can move away from stoppages. Recent rule changes have led to a more open game that suits this type of player.

Also, the word on Philipou is that he told the clubs he interviewed at that he “would make them pay if the did not select him”. He was seen as more of a marking forward type player who can push into the midfield.

This is why I compared him to Langford (Phillipou). I do believe he will be a better player than Langford. Agree with Ant that he is a much quicker thinker to Langford but I was trying to compare him with someone on our list. He doesn’t look strong below his knees in my mind. The one thing I will give him credit for especially at a young age is how hard he works the other way when he doesn’t have the ball. Some of his chase down tackles from behind were sublime. To me that showed he has but a bit of work in his defensive side. I can definitely see him as an avenue to goal for a team but I don’t see him as a bonifide mid like I don’t see Langers as a bonifide mid.

 

[Happyskeret]

There was a part of me that was surprised that North picked Wardlaw over Tsatas as I thought he was exactly the player they needed. You can’t go against Callum though he usually dead on the money. Out of everyone I had Tsatas at the 4th most player that I wanted and we got him at pick 5 so I can’t be unhappy with that.

 

[Zach Package]

There was a part of me that was surprised that North picked Wardlaw over Tsatas as I thought he was exactly the player they needed. You can’t go against Callum though he usually dead on the money. Out of everyone I had Tsatas at the 4th most player that I wanted and we got him at pick 5 so I can’t be unhappy with that.

Goes to show you how good and unique a prospect Sheezel is, any other year for a club in North’s position adding the best inside specialist and the best outside run and carry player together who just happen to be really good mates is an utter no brainer.

 

[Happyskeret]

Goes to show you how good and unique a prospect Sheezel is, any other year for a club in North’s position adding the best inside specialist and the best outside run and carry player together who just happen to be really good mates is an utter no brainer.

Yeah well he was my No.1 Wardlaw 2. The absolute bolter was Ginbey at 3 yeah I know I have him higher than a lot of others then Tsatas. Sheezel I think will be one of those special ones.X factor combined with skill sets.

 

[andleanback]

Geeze he’s going to be powerful when he fills out. You can just see it from his body shape and the size of his legs.

 

[citizen-erased]

The rationale of why we selected Tsatas was explained today by Daniel McPherson.

The theory is that players who can regularly get big numbers/ find the footy, generally continue to do so once they get onto an AFL list.

With Tsatas, they see a powerful mid who can move away from stoppages. Recent rule changes have led to a more open game that suits this type of player.

Also, the word on Philipou is that he told the clubs he interviewed at that he “would make them pay if the did not select him”. He was seen as more of a marking forward type player who can push into the midfield.

i'm very comfortable with Tsatas over Phillipou.
As much as I liked the idea of Mackenzie or Clark as well, I was apprehensive about overlooking the obvious in Tsatas.

Perkins + Tsatas has me a bit excited for the future of our midfield. Esp with Caldwell and Hobbs bringing a bit of physical competitiveness too.

 

[Bipolar Bear]

Enjoying watching the needle swing, people already moving on from Phillipou, who we were only interested in if we managed to snare a crazy trade for 5.
Tsatas and Perkins as a midfield duo have scary potential.

 

[Keystone agony]

Enjoying watching the needle swing, people already moving on from Phillipou, who we were only interested in if we managed to snare a crazy trade for 5.
Tsatas and Perkins as a midfield duo have scary potential.

LBH if he was at the bombers they wouldnt be

Phillipou was strongly considered at 5

But not much point talking about a player on another list here

 

[andleanback]

LBH if he was at the bombers they wouldnt be

Phillipou was strongly considered at 5

But not much point talking about a player on another list here

I don’t think he was. I think he was the target if we traded back, knowing he’d be there. There was a fair chance we were going to trade. But obviously they aren’t going to say that publicly.

 

[Keystone agony]

I don’t think he was. I think he was the target if we traded back, knowing he’d be there. There was a fair chance we were going to trade. But obviously they aren’t going to say that publicly.

No one would really know for 100% but,

The way Dodoro spoke afterwards suggested he was in line for pick 5. The comment made by Phillpou to Dodoro that i hope Elijiah is good also suggest as much

Reality is Melbourne and dogs pick was never getting us access to Pou.

The hawks really liked Pou at 6 right behind us so its not as if its anything out of line

 

[andleanback]

No one would really know for 100% but,

The way Dodoro spoke afterwards suggested he was in line for pick 5. The comment made by Phillpou to Dodoro that i hope Elijiah is good also suggest as much

Reality is Melbourne and dogs pick was never getting us access to Pou.

The hawks really liked Pou at 6 right behind us so its not as if its anything out of line

And Dodoro also always says a player we got was way higher on a board and we can’t believe they slipped to us. It’s what he does. Plus of course he was going to say he was in the pick 5 conversation, why would he come out and say oh phillipou was the planned choice if we traded back.

 

[faible]

And Dodoro also always says a player we got was way higher on a board and we can’t believe they slipped to us. It’s what he does. Plus of course he was going to say he was in the pick 5 conversation, why would he come out and say oh phillipou was the planned choice if we traded back.

Literally every recruiter does that, they all pump up the incoming draftees.

No one is rolling out 'we only drafted <player> because they were the least shit one on the board, he's probably not going to make it.'

 

[Foxx]

Why would we interview someone several times who was no realistic chance of falling to Melbourne's pick?
Melbourne offered the deal late and after that anyway.
Nah we were considering him at 5.

 

[andleanback]

Literally every recruiter does that, they all pump up the incoming draftees.

No one is rolling out 'we only drafted <player> because they were the least s**t one on the board, he's probably not going to make it.'

They don’t all do it but anyway. And we are talking about first round picks here, they are all still very good players.

 

[doug85]

They don’t all do it but anyway. And we are talking about first round picks here, they are all still very good players.

Of course they do. I agree that in the past Dodo has gone too far with it. But all clubs pump up their draft crop.

 

[ant555]

Why would we interview someone several times who was no realistic chance of falling to Melbourne's pick?
Melbourne offered the deal late and after that anyway.
Nah we were considering him at 5.

Exactly

 

[ant555]

I don’t think he was. I think he was the target if we traded back, knowing he’d be there. There was a fair chance we were going to trade. But obviously they aren’t going to say that publicly.

Scott interviewed both . He was their second choice. It was between him and Tsatas . Scott wanted to go with the proven attacking midfielder.

 

[ant555]

Have had a chat to a few people who have seen more of Tsatas play than I have and the consensus was I was right in questioning his lack of defense but they had no issues with him playing a physical game even though it was missing late in the season. Their opinion is he will grow stronger over a couple of years and has the build to have the power out of the clearance and break tackles. He may never be a physical animal making 10 tackles a game but the same story was being told by all I have talked to and that is he will have the size and power to be a clearance beast when he hits his prime. He already has the clearance skill set. Just has to add 5 or so kg to give him a little more size.
One comment from my training spy was he looks like he will have Watson quads.

 

[Keystone agony]

Have had a chat to a few people who have seen more of Tsatas play than I have and the consensus was I was right in questioning his lack of defense but they had no issues with him playing a physical game even though it was missing late in the season. Their opinion is he will grow stronger over a couple of years and has the build to have the power out of the clearance and break tackles. He may never be a physical animal making 10 tackles a game but the same story was being told by all I have talked to and that is he will have the size and power to be a clearance beast when he hits his prime. He already has the clearance skill set. Just has to add 5 or so kg to give him a little more size.
One comment from my training spy was he looks like he will have Watson quads.

but can he block?

 

[fairbump_playon]

but can he block?

“Blocks? Where we’re going…”
(Puts on futuristic sunnies)
“…we don’t need blocks”

 

[Maxabillions]

Have had a chat to a few people who have seen more of Tsatas play than I have and the consensus was I was right in questioning his lack of defense but they had no issues with him playing a physical game even though it was missing late in the season. Their opinion is he will grow stronger over a couple of years and has the build to have the power out of the clearance and break tackles. He may never be a physical animal making 10 tackles a game but the same story was being told by all I have talked to and that is he will have the size and power to be a clearance beast when he hits his prime. He already has the clearance skill set. Just has to add 5 or so kg to give him a little more size.
One comment from my training spy was he looks like he will have Watson quads.

Sounds like the next dusty to me

 

[ant555]

but can he block?

Who cares
If he is running away with the footy.
Block. Smock.

 

[eDPS]

Have had a chat to a few people who have seen more of Tsatas play than I have and the consensus was I was right in questioning his lack of defense but they had no issues with him playing a physical game even though it was missing late in the season. Their opinion is he will grow stronger over a couple of years and has the build to have the power out of the clearance and break tackles. He may never be a physical animal making 10 tackles a game but the same story was being told by all I have talked to and that is he will have the size and power to be a clearance beast when he hits his prime. He already has the clearance skill set. Just has to add 5 or so kg to give him a little more size.
One comment from my training spy was he looks like he will have Watson quads.

As someone who has seen Tsatas play more than just about everyone I can confirm all this

 

[The Prosecutor]

Its times like these I wish there were more prime WC Judd highlights going around.

 

[Keystone agony]

Just by looking at photos its easy to see hes going to fill out and i know it was said at draft time he had already started adding weight to his frame