Saturday, November 2, 2024

Clubs expected to look at targeting former top-five pick Don this trade period

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Rival clubs could target Essendon midfielder Elijah Tsatas this off-season, reports AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.

Tsatas, 19, is contracted until the end of the 2026 season but has only played seven games in 2024 with the likes of Zach Merrett, Jye Caldwell, Sam Durham, Darcy Parish (once he returns) and even Dylan Shiel ahead of him on the midfield pecking order at the moment.

While the former No.5 pick is tied to the Dons for the next two seasons, Twomey expects clubs to consider him an option as an inside midfielder.

He thinks that clubs would be assessing him if they felt he could start in their midfield given he’s currently playing VFL for Essendon. But ultimately, any move would be in the hands of the Dons given his contract status.

“I’d expect clubs to take a look at Elijah Tsatas,” Twomey said on AFL.com.au’s Gettable.

“Would they try to prise him out of the Bombers if he can’t break into their midfield?

“Tsatas is an inside midfielder by trade, he’s a clearance player but he has some senior players ahead of him.

“Clearly he’s a top-five pick from a couple of years ago and is signed for two years beyond (2024).

“Ultimately, it would be up to the Bombers if anything eventuated there.

“But I’d expect he’d be a player that clubs are assessing going, ‘If he can’t get a game in their midfield, can he get a game in ours?’.”

Tsatas had 31 disposals in Essendon’s most recent VFL game against Port Melbourne.

He’s averaging 28.7 touches a game at the state league level in 2024 and 10.1 disposals across seven AFL games this season.





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