People may know I’m sceptical of stats, but I’d suggest prejudices are blocking the view of what Zaharakis is doing;
33 possessions, 11 contested, 6 clearances, 5 tackles, 8 score involvements and 1 clanger is a bit better than an OK game.
If Langford produced those numbers he’d be hailed as the second coming.
And this is after similar figures last week.
As for corralling players, if done effectively, it allows others to shine, particularly from forcing the hook kick forwards which GWS mids did a bucketload of last night.
All good teams need those very good solid role players, and I think Zaharakis has found his niche there.
Not as spectacular as some may have hoped but in no way deserving the derision he seems to attract.
Up to two weeks ago what I said was true, but the last two weeks have been an incredible turnaround from everyone including Zakarakis. So good on him, I’m trying to work out where it’s been all year? If anything it further proves my point that he needs the side up and running to have an effect. I think the last few weeks from guys like Tippa/Heppell/Zaka/Zerrett have been chalk and cheese as all have been great the last few weeks. Would have liked him to have kicked those two posters but he’s been great the last few weeks.
Possession counts mean 10 fifths of fck all as we always get around 450 disposals with 6/7 players near or over 30, but I reckon he’s had far more dangerous/effective possessions in the last two weeks. I just wish him and his mates were playing this well from Rounds 2-8 but better late than never I guess.
As I posted earlier I thought he wasted it a bit yesterday and just checked out the stats and found out he only went at 46% effectiveness with his disposal. Last week he was running at nearly 80%
I liked watching the ‘down the ground’ replay of Zaka’s goal…you can see how all players are preparing to go to the GWS end, until the Tippa tackle…then Zaka responds so quickly to go on the offensive to get the chance at the shot.
He does what he does well, is how I see it. He is a decent user of the ball, but not great. He has become a very good pressure player. His inside work is nearing elite. His speed is still ok, though not super quick. He is a great link-up player and you add those elements up to have a very dangerous component of a functioning squad. His output as an outside player, when he’s doing that, depends greatly on others, as do all linking roles. He does not have the physique to be a crash/bash in and under for any length of time. Like a lot of role players in other teams - like Higgins, for example, or Smith - he can look ordinary when the wheels get wobbly.
If you had told me that 2 years ago, I would have agreed.
Past two seasons, since Stants has gone, I reckon Zaharakis has really stepped up being that endurance mid who just keeps going and going and going all match and linking up for the full 4 quarters.
Zaharakis has a better attacking flair than Stants ever did, and their disposal is probably on par.
Stants has been more consistent, but the past two years, Zaharakis has produced better footy than Stants ever did.
You would have to compare Stanton of 2012 with Zaka of 2017 I reckon.
Stanton played outside all of the time and Zaka played both insdie and outside. Hence I reckon Stanton was much more noticable, running down the wing in lots of space.
Both seem to cop a lot of criticism from some idiot Bomber supporters; especially Stanton. Both seemingly played with injuries. Stants had Jobe to take the heat, not sure who backs Zaka up.