48 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

I remember looking at highlight packages of Hayden Young 3 years ago, all be it a different position but his disposal by foot was elite.

"The kick" is still the best piece of underage vision I've seen. Young showed smarts, dare and skill - a match winner. He's the one that got away in my mind. Will be a multiple time All Australian and the best player of that draft crop.

The highlights for this years top 5-10 are pretty disappointing viewing. I'm not able to get around and view any live underage games like pre-covid days, so have to rely on them. Yes they're only amateur youtube clips, but none of the top crop look like they have game breaking abilities IMO. There's no powerful burst out of stoppages, no blistering speed, no X factor kicking skills, it just looks like a bland crop this year. It's why I'm keen on Cadman as he at least fills a need in the rare and important KPF position.

1 hour ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Have you been following his junior career closely or are you able to post some more highlights that showcase the class people speak off?

Yes, I have been following his career closely and his ball use since he was a junior schoolkid has always been elite.

BTW, I don't expect Melbourne to get a high enough draft pick to secure him so you can enjoy bagging whichever club does recruit him next month.

21 hours ago, Gawndog98 said:

I also agree with this, I think he is too much of an outside player to be worthy of a top 5 pick, I've got concerns about his toughness, ability to win contested ball, kicking, and defensive accountability based on the vision I've seen. That being said he would fill a need on a wing opposite Langdon where he wouldn't be required to win much contested ball with our midfield bulls feeding it out to him. 

I still would prefer Wardlaw and Clark as midfielders who aren't just midfield bulls, they can also be effective on the outside. I also really like Phillipou who I think has a higher ceiling with his versatility.

Really being picky when you say NO to the mids getting the ball to Tsatas but ok if it's out on the wing where he will have more space. Should not matter if he is an outside runner as you can't restrict him getting the ball in any position if he makes good "positioning".

Also don't agree that any Draft No ie you say 5 is TOO HIGH for an outside mid. 
Perhaps  you should appreciate what Lingers does  for us on the wing and hope we can train and improve Tsatas to be a star in the centre of the ground.

Trust  our development and coaching to improve him. These kids aren't all without flaws and think what they will bring not their flaws or shortcomings. 

That silly duffer Knightmare just issued his October power rankings and put Tsatas at 4 ahead of Sheezel and Cadman.

"When given space on the outside, Tsatas is an elite ball user and places his kicks out in front of inside 50 targets to run onto. He also displays an innate ability to finish around goal, particularly when the ball hits the deck."

Outrageous!

3 hours ago, Rolling Stone said:

Therein lies the problem. Wardlaw is the same type of player as Trac and a few others getting a regular game at Melbourne. Tsatas is all class and fills a void at the club. That element of speed and skill is just what we need (as do a dozen other clubs).

id be happy to have 2 tracs in our team :)

Tsatas is the exact running type of midfielder that the Dees would love to add. But I’d prefer Cadman if we somehow managed to land a top 5 pick. My top 5 (after the Lions take Ashcroft under father-son as #1) are Cadman, Wardlaw, Tsatas, Sheezel and Humphrey.  No real surprises really. 

12 minutes ago, Tracca said:

id be happy to have 2 tracs in our team :)

No shots on goal for either, please

I posted the clips so I feel a bit responsible for them. Please note they aren’t highlights but are game compilations, there’s an important difference. 

Tsatas’ best highlights are no doubt incredible. He’s a big talent. A full game clip when he’s had an interrupted year won’t be nearly as pretty. And his second half was very strong.

I’m not in a position to say whether he’s going to be a star or not I just don’t think he’s the type of player that you trade up big time for. If we get pick 9 he looks a good option, if we trade the farm for pick 5 or so, not so much.

So far I’ve only seen 2 of the top prospects (apart from Ashcroft) who id put in that category. One is clearly Cadman because if he’s really good he’ll be super valuable and rare. The other, I’m waiting for a thread on. 

52 minutes ago, Chelly said:

That silly duffer Knightmare just issued his October power rankings and put Tsatas at 4 ahead of Sheezel and Cadman.

"When given space on the outside, Tsatas is an elite ball user and places his kicks out in front of inside 50 targets to run onto. He also displays an innate ability to finish around goal, particularly when the ball hits the deck."

Outrageous!

I know you think you're being clever here but you're hurting your own point. Knightmare has a very ordinary record for someone who dedicates the time he does. Silly duffer is a very good description (I'm aware you're being sarcastic). 

I've covered this before but he heavily qualifies most of what he says and is generally overly verbose (to cover himself - throw enough darts you might hit a target)...His 'strengths summary' of a player is a big box paragraph of adjectives he's ether pulled from a Thesauraus or sentences positioned as words... "Kicking, handballing, body control in the air when pushed from the side, protecting drop zone when he is stationed on the ground".   

He's very dedicated but for an aspiring recruiter genuinely seems to have very little feel for the game or what game-day behaviours form the best senior players. He also has zero insight into the mental / personality aspects of drafting which are just as (if not more) important than player A's skills at the 2:05 minute mark of Video X. 

Having said all that, Tsatas looks poor. Pass. 

Unlike most, I like the look of him.

Recruiters don't worry about every error, they more concern themselves by the body of evidence over the last few years and what they've shown they consistently can do.

Tsatas is a lovely size, moves really well and shows smarts and balance.

The odd erant kick at his age, when he's already shown he can deliver the ball beautifully by foot, isn't overly concerning.

He won't be coming to Melbourne but he looks a player to me.

Knightmare not the best or worst, but surprised he doesn’t get more data on testing times and insight from clubs 

 

Edited October 3, 20222 yr by DeeSpencer

Some interesting observations and differences of opinion here.

I mentioned on another thread that the Rookie Me Central AFL Draft Power Rankings – October 2022 dropped today.

This is what it says about Tsatas -

“ELIJAH TSATAS OAKLEIGH CHARGERS | MIDFIELDER
Height: 186cm
Weight: 79kg
D.O.B: 18-10-2004

FLEET OF FOOT

Plenty of top-end prospects are labelled ‘jets’, and Tsatas is one who embodies that moniker on-field. The Oakleigh Chargers speedster is an athletic type at 186cm, able to seriously hurt the opposition with line-breaking dashes through the corridor. Given his outside tendencies, Tsatas mostly featured on the wing at NAB League level, but really catches the eye when utilised at the centre bounces with his ability to break away cleanly and hit targets at full tilt. Coming into the year, he was one of three Victorian midfielders in the mix for pick one, and has pressed his claims with terrific numbers in the back-end of the year.”

6 hours ago, fr_ap said:

I know you think you're being clever here but you're hurting your own point. Knightmare has a very ordinary record for someone who dedicates the time he does. Silly duffer is a very good description (I'm aware you're being sarcastic). 

I've covered this before but he heavily qualifies most of what he says and is generally overly verbose (to cover himself - throw enough darts you might hit a target)...His 'strengths summary' of a player is a big box paragraph of adjectives he's ether pulled from a Thesauraus or sentences positioned as words... "Kicking, handballing, body control in the air when pushed from the side, protecting drop zone when he is stationed on the ground".   

He's very dedicated but for an aspiring recruiter genuinely seems to have very little feel for the game or what game-day behaviours form the best senior players. He also has zero insight into the mental / personality aspects of drafting which are just as (if not more) important than player A's skills at the 2:05 minute mark of Video X. 

Having said all that, Tsatas looks poor. Pass. 

About Knightmare, you’re right - I was being sarcastic and in that respect, a tad clever too because, although he’s all over the place at times, he’s spot on in rating this kid highly. 

This thread opened with the result of the Oakleigh Chargers B & F which was won by a player who you’ve said “looks poor”. You’re entitled to your opinion but in five of his NAB Cup games he was voted their best four times and second best once. In the only other competition game he played this year  - the NAB Under 18 Championship final - he was named second best for Vic Metro. 

In reflecting on your last sentence, I can only conclude that you’re taking the [censored].

Greek heritage usually does not bode well for longevity in AFL football. Just saying.

46 minutes ago, Future of Aussie Rules said:

Greek heritage usually does not bode well for longevity in AFL football. Just saying.

Anthony Koutoufides - 278 games. Just saying.

10 hours ago, Chelly said:

About Knightmare, you’re right - I was being sarcastic and in that respect, a tad clever too because, although he’s all over the place at times, he’s spot on in rating this kid highly. 

This thread opened with the result of the Oakleigh Chargers B & F which was won by a player who you’ve said “looks poor”. You’re entitled to your opinion but in five of his NAB Cup games he was voted their best four times and second best once. In the only other competition game he played this year  - the NAB Under 18 Championship final - he was named second best for Vic Metro. 

In reflecting on your last sentence, I can only conclude that you’re taking the [censored].

Fair enough  - and yes last sentence was a joke / self deprecating hypocrisy given comments about Knightmare forming judgements from afar...

1 hour ago, Mister Ed said:

Anthony Koutoufides - 278 games. Just saying.

There are some successful players of Greek heritage, but if you compare longevity with players of Italian heritage, then there is no comparison.

Why? Methinks that Australian Italian culture really plants itself wholly in Australia, while Australian Greek Culture, always has one foot in Greece. This mentality may effect their resilience in footy, and must be considered.

In saying that, Ive got plenty of Greek friends, and they are a wonderful people, and have a wonderful traditional culture.

13 minutes ago, Future of Aussie Rules said:

There are some successful players of Greek heritage, but if you compare longevity with players of Italian heritage, then there is no comparison.

Why? Methinks that Australian Italian culture really plants itself wholly in Australia, while Australian Greek Culture, always has one foot in Greece. This mentality may effect their resilience in footy, and must be considered.

In saying that, Ive got plenty of Greek friends, and they are a wonderful people, and have a wonderful traditional culture.

Take individuals as they are it's like if you refused a player from a certain state or town. It's too subjective unless 2 players are equal IYO. 

4 minutes ago, 58er said:

Take individuals as they are it's like if you refused a player from a certain state or town. It's too subjective unless 2 players are equal IYO. 

Im not sure about that.

Look at Luke Jackson, Jesse Hogan and many other interstate draftees. Nothing personal, but heritage is signifcant, whether it be Greek, South or Western Australian, or even Qld based.

Recruiters look at parents, why not look at heritage?

 

 

7 minutes ago, Future of Aussie Rules said:

Im not sure about that.

Look at Luke Jackson, Jesse Hogan and many other interstate draftees. Nothing personal, but heritage is signifcant, whether it be Greek, South or Western Australian, or even Qld based.

Recruiters look at parents, why not look at heritage?

It's part of life I guess but as the two countries you mentioned have assimilated into Australia  now for about 70 years this is surely breaking down more and more In time.

Will have to leave it to JT !! 

 

Just now, 58er said:

It's part of life I guess but as the two countries you mentioned have assimilated into Australia  now for about 70 years this is surely breaking down more and more In time.

Will have to leave it to JT !! 

 

I n this situation now I wonder if our FD made any attempt to broker LJ with his family st any time to save a couple of years at MFC. By visiting family with LJ for instance . Or is this too pressurising ? 

We now have Taj j JVR AMV and Judd McPhee all from WA !! 

 

 

4 hours ago, Future of Aussie Rules said:

Greek heritage usually does not bode well for longevity in AFL football. Just saying.

I have a 16 year career on Demonland and still going. 🙂

19 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

 

 

I said the same about Toumpas. Proven correct Mr wokester.

 

 

Toumpas didn't work out so no other player of Greek heritage will?   

Never mind, some of your best friends are Greek, right?