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AFL Player 5: Elijah Tsatas

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His disposal wasn’t identified as a major issue pre draft. He’d also had injuries as a junior so it was assumed his tank would improve in an AFL environment

So crazy that it wasn't identified as a major issue when I identified it off 3 minutes of highlights... the kicking action was just horrendous even then

Watched his highlights and his kicking seems to be pretty poor but otherwise a weapon.
 

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if you Lij's 19 possessions from 63% time on ground is extrapolated, what does that equate to for 85% time on ground?


Utilising his strength is a must know by seasons end for Scott. He can clearly find the ball
Not really, it’s only 25 touches. He needs to be a complete ball pig to make up for his deficiencies
 
( 85 / 63 ) * 19 = ~26

He was gassed at 63% TOG though so 🤷‍♂️

They don't modulate his minutes in the VFL, to me that says he needs to play AFL games and get used to the tempo rather than just a general 'improve his fitness'.

We know he can go contest to contest and pig it up at VFL level, but going contest to contest with a 30 or a 50 or a 70 metre sprint and stop in between contests is a different beast, the only place he gets that is at senior level.

He's in a similar boat to Wardlaw although North have got 20 more games into him despite his injuries, the difference being North are desperate to get Wardlaw in at all costs and we seem desperate not to play Tsatas.
 

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They don't modulate his minutes in the VFL, to me that says he needs to play AFL games and get used to the tempo rather than just a general 'improve his fitness'.

We know he can go contest to contest and pig it up at VFL level, but going contest to contest with a 30 or a 50 or a 70 metre sprint and stop in between contests is a different beast, the only place he gets that is at senior level.

He's in a similar boat to Wardlaw although North have got 20 more games into him despite his injuries, the difference being North are desperate to get Wardlaw in at all costs and we seem desperate not to play Tsatas.
wardlaw's on heavily managed minutes but he's also playing a far more "complete" version of what lij is trying to do. he'll crash and bash for like 65% of the game and be on the bench for the other 35, but they're far better when he's out there.
 
They don't modulate his minutes in the VFL, to me that says he needs to play AFL games and get used to the tempo rather than just a general 'improve his fitness'.

We know he can go contest to contest and pig it up at VFL level, but going contest to contest with a 30 or a 50 or a 70 metre sprint and stop in between contests is a different beast, the only place he gets that is at senior level.

He's in a similar boat to Wardlaw although North have got 20 more games into him despite his injuries, the difference being North are desperate to get Wardlaw in at all costs and we seem desperate not to play Tsatas.
I know you hate hearing this but just maybe the coaches (Scott) don’t rate him
 
wardlaw's on heavily managed minutes but he's also playing a far more "complete" version of what lij is trying to do. he'll crash and bash for like 65% of the game and be on the bench for the other 35, but they're far better when he's out there.

Wardlaw at this stage is a moments player who can’t actually find the ball. He’s the exact opposite end of the spectrum to Tsatas. But again, North have made every attempt to give him opportunities between his injuries and tried to get 50 games into him as quickly as possible.
 
From all reports he is a hard worker and has put in a lot of time to refine his craft. He was never going to be a great player when he can’t kick accurately or with penetration, but how on earth is his tank not up to standard after 3 years?
It’s pretty bad unless it’s because he’s devoted so much time on improving his kicking that he’s on a restricted cardio regime
 

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Umm what?

If his disposal is poor more possessions is arguably a net negative. That’s about the last thing he needs to improve on
If your impact per disposal is low then a lot of disposals are needed to have impact. If you’re aiming to reduce the number of disposals a player has then that player has no business being a professional footballer (rucks might be the exception)
 
From all reports he is a hard worker and has put in a lot of time to refine his craft. He was never going to be a great player when he can’t kick accurately or with penetration, but how on earth is his tank not up to standard after 3 years?
His build doesn't lend itself to fantastic endurance
 
If your impact per disposal is low then a lot of disposals are needed to have impact. If you’re aiming to reduce the number of disposals a player has then that player has no business being a professional footballer (rucks might be the exception)
Or old fashioned lockdown defenders (there probably isnt a place for them in the modern game though)
 
What's the superpower here? Finding the football? Sure - after that there are way too many problems to make it at the elite level. It's a bad pick. Work through the big 5 and be grateful we are getting some other opportunities right.
 

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AFL Player 5: Elijah Tsatas

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