#11 David Zaharakis - Surviving half-Ironmans

Riolio already touched upon it, but it'll be good when he has a 30 touch, 2 goal game next year and a few people use it as proof that the discussion and criticism in 2015 was entirely baseless, unfounded and unwarranted.

Well, it will have been 2 years in the past at that stage…

It’s 2016 already? ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■

At least Hodgey has the decency to start limping when he’s having a bad day.

At least Hodgey has the decency to start limping when he's having a bad day.

He courageously fights through the fake limp though.

I heard Zaharakis is scared of fake limps.

from the club website on Zaka being tagged

Dealing with it
Travis King August 2, 2016 10:06 AM

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Zacka has been tagged by some of the best opposition players.
Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis is trying to “embrace” being tagged after conceding he lost the mental battle to overcome close-checking from opponents earlier in the season.

Zaharakis started the campaign on fire, averaging just under 30 touches across the opening seven rounds, but became a target for run-with players in a Bombers midfield missing Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell.

North Melbourne’s specialist stopper Ben Jacobs shut Zaharakis down in round eight, holding him to just 12 disposals, and the Bomber has struggled to rediscover his consistency since.

The 26-year-old had only 11 touches in a round 11 loss to Fremantle and is averaging just 15 possessions over the past four games.

“Obviously, it hasn’t been my best month compared to the whole year,” Zaharakis told RSNradio on Tuesday.

"(I’m) not in great touch and great form … we’ve got four weeks to go and hopefully I can finish off with a strong four weeks and rectify that last month.
“It definitely has been an indifferent month and I’m not shying away from that – I’ve got to play better footy.”

Zaharakis has spoken to close friends who have battled tags over their careers in a bid to work out tricks to stay in the game under heat from the opposition’s best stopper.

“First of all you have to embrace it. If you go out there and don’t embrace it and you say ‘Why me?’ you’re going to be in all sorts during the game,” Zaharakis said.

"Probably against Freo, probably the worst game of the year for me, there was definitely a change in mindset after that game about how I deal with a tag.

"That was probably one where I went out there and isolated myself a little bit and I’ve learnt a lot from that game.

"You’ve got embrace it, you’ve got a challenge as a one-on-one to beat that player, and I’ve learnt a few little tricks by speaking to a couple of people.

"You can’t just run away from a tag … you’ve got to try and lose them in a contest.

“Probably working back into your back 50 harder than your tagger is one you can get away with, you can get a few kicks in defensive half going forward and that kind of thing.”

One benefit of Zaharakis receiving attention is that young guns Zach Merrett, who is averaging 29 disposals, and Darcy Parish have escaped as much attention.

“They’ve been great stories. Zachy’s having an unbelievable year … he finds a way to find the footy each week. He pops up at contests when you don’t think he’ll get there,” Zaharakis said.
"So his work rate has been unbelievable and he’s a true professional, it’s no surprise that he’s playing the footy that he is.

"Darcy, obviously a first-year player, people can already see his talents and the future is looking bright for him.

“He’s a bull at the footy. His intensity around the ball is definitely something that stands out to people.”

The Dons, who lost to a red-hot Adelaide by 82 points last round, face Geelong at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Geez I really don’t see how this media helps his cause.

What’s the first thing his opponent is going to say to him on Sunday?

from the club website on Zaka being tagged

Dealing with it
Travis King August 2, 2016 10:06 AM

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Zacka has been tagged by some of the best opposition players.
Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis is trying to “embrace” being tagged after conceding he lost the mental battle to overcome close-checking from opponents earlier in the season.

Zaharakis started the campaign on fire, averaging just under 30 touches across the opening seven rounds, but became a target for run-with players in a Bombers midfield missing Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell.

North Melbourne’s specialist stopper Ben Jacobs shut Zaharakis down in round eight, holding him to just 12 disposals, and the Bomber has struggled to rediscover his consistency since.

The 26-year-old had only 11 touches in a round 11 loss to Fremantle and is averaging just 15 possessions over the past four games.

“Obviously, it hasn’t been my best month compared to the whole year,” Zaharakis told RSNradio on Tuesday.

"(I’m) not in great touch and great form … we’ve got four weeks to go and hopefully I can finish off with a strong four weeks and rectify that last month.
“It definitely has been an indifferent month and I’m not shying away from that – I’ve got to play better footy.”

Zaharakis has spoken to close friends who have battled tags over their careers in a bid to work out tricks to stay in the game under heat from the opposition’s best stopper.

“First of all you have to embrace it. If you go out there and don’t embrace it and you say ‘Why me?’ you’re going to be in all sorts during the game,” Zaharakis said.

"Probably against Freo, probably the worst game of the year for me, there was definitely a change in mindset after that game about how I deal with a tag.

"That was probably one where I went out there and isolated myself a little bit and I’ve learnt a lot from that game.

"You’ve got embrace it, you’ve got a challenge as a one-on-one to beat that player, and I’ve learnt a few little tricks by speaking to a couple of people.

"You can’t just run away from a tag … you’ve got to try and lose them in a contest.

“Probably working back into your back 50 harder than your tagger is one you can get away with, you can get a few kicks in defensive half going forward and that kind of thing.”

One benefit of Zaharakis receiving attention is that young guns Zach Merrett, who is averaging 29 disposals, and Darcy Parish have escaped as much attention.

“They’ve been great stories. Zachy’s having an unbelievable year … he finds a way to find the footy each week. He pops up at contests when you don’t think he’ll get there,” Zaharakis said.
"So his work rate has been unbelievable and he’s a true professional, it’s no surprise that he’s playing the footy that he is.

"Darcy, obviously a first-year player, people can already see his talents and the future is looking bright for him.

“He’s a bull at the footy. His intensity around the ball is definitely something that stands out to people.”

The Dons, who lost to a red-hot Adelaide by 82 points last round, face Geelong at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Geez I really don’t see how this media helps his cause.

What’s the first thing his opponent is going to say to him on Sunday?

The point is - it shouldn’t make a difference.

Feel for the bloke. Had plans of being the best he can this year. Wouldn’t have thought he’d be the main man with Jobe etc in the team. After the suspensions he was thrown into an unfamiliar position of play/responsibility. All things being equal Zaka would’ve been doing “his” thing and creating problems for the opposition. Basically, he’s rarely had to deal with a heavy tag. It’s taking him some time to work it out. Get off his back

id argue that stants still doesnt really know how to break a tag but is saved by his elite endurance enabling him to impact games when everyone, including his tagger, is knackered, which is his weapon whether he gets tagged or not

He knows he can break a tag with elite endurance.

Maybe Zaka will train even harder next year knowing the standards he needs to reach?

There was one instance in the final quarter where Selwood was caught on the wing while Zaka snuck into the centre bounce. Immediately he was directing Cockatoo to run hard forward of the contest. Sure enough, when Geelong won the clearance, Cockatoo entered their F50 about 3 seconds ahead of Zaka and was filthy when he wasn’t used as an option.

Now to be fair to Zaka, he and Cockatoo ended up on opposite ends of the stoppage once each team’s structures were set, but I think it’s telling that the instruction was to hurt him the other way.

Honestly don't know what's happened to him? His first 7 weeks were so good, but since he's been utterly useless. Jogging half pace around, 20m passes to opposition players, he doesn't even look like he cares anymore?

The list is here is here is getting bigger and bigger, last 2 months:

  • 11 possessions (destroyed by Barlow)
  • 33 possessions (ineffectual, useless touches against Hawthorn)
  • 25 (ineffective, invisible all day)
  • 15 (spanked by a 20 year old tagger, got reported)
  • suspended
  • 15 (spanked by Taylor Hunt)
  • 13 (spanked by Robinson)
  • 18 (5 possessions in first half, 50% effective)

And if people say “but he takes the tag away from someone so he should play” then that’s the biggest, weakest cop out for a player ever. So his entire role in the team is to be a sacrificial lamb and not contribute?

Plus todays:

  • 17 (7 possessions in first half, toweled up by Selwood)

Nice easy tag for S.Selwood to start his Cats career.

I thought he worked hard today. Will definitely benefit by some of the stronger bodies (Hocking, Watson, Heppell) coming back next year.

Hell yeah, just Hocking alone around the contest will make a monumental difference.

Zerret/Parish/Bird won the clearances against Dangerfield /Sellwood. Who would have thought that.

Add Hepp and McLuggage ? Jobe /Myers/ Hocking to the mix.
Zaka will not be needed as an inside mid next year.

It’s too bad that Zaka can’t make Zaka a good player. Jobe, Stants and Hep have to make Zaka a good player.

I think he just is over this season. As most players are but him more than most.

you know zaharakis played games like this when the 12 were here, right? or do we just choose to ignore last season and half of the games he has played every season before that?

you know zaharakis played games like this when the 12 were here, right? or do we just choose to ignore last season and half of the games he has played every season before that?

He kicked the winning goal on ANZAC Day 7 years ago you know.

I thought he worked hard today. Will definitely benefit by some of the stronger bodies (Hocking, Watson, Heppell) coming back next year.

No he didn’t. Just jogged around, never really putting in.

Zaka, shouldn’t need other strong bodies around him- he has been around long enough(multiple pre seasons to put on size) now to be able to stand up when the chips are down.

He had the exact same issues when the 12 were playing with him, I’m not sure them coming back will magically make him a better player.

Contributes nothing during the game. Should be dropped, but he won’t be. He is contributing zero to the team at the moment. Players this year have been dropped for much less.

In 12 months time we will all be having the same discussion again. He will have a really good 4-6 weeks at some stage- then go back to his normal self after that.

If we could get a top 25 pick we should take it and run.

you know zaharakis played games like this when the 12 were here, right? or do we just choose to ignore last season and half of the games he has played every season before that?

He kicked the winning goal on ANZAC Day 7 years ago you know.

Bet Ricky dyson feels pretty aggrieved. Kicked a harder goal on the day and wheres his 10 years of goodwill?