On the surface it was David Zaharakis’ quietest game of the season.

But peeling back the layers reveals the key role he played against North Melbourne in freeing up his teammates. 

“David Zaharakis who got sat on for us, really played a selfless role today,” Midfield Line Coach Guy McKenna told members in the Coaches post-game video (Click here to purchase a Digital Membership for the best inner sanctum content).

“He ran to positions that he wouldn’t normally go, to allow other players to get the ball like Bird, Merrett and obviously allow Brendon Goddard to do what he did from the wing role. 

“That was a fantastic, selfless role.”

So what exactly did that 'selfless role' involve? 

It all started when North Melbourne sent tagger Ben Jacobs to Zaharakis. 

The move wouldn’t have surprised the Bombers.  Zaharakis has been one of the side’s best all season averaging 28 possessions per game.

“We had a few strategies going in around the stoppages,” Zaharakis told RSN927.

“They (North Melbourne) play high forwards up at the stoppage. 

“Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti was on one of their high forwards and I sort of went to their high forwards and tried to break that way and get them (Walla) off the chain.

“Brendon Goddard was another one.  At stoppages I went to take his opponent and he got off the chain a little bit.”

Goddard ended the match with 38 possessions while Walla had 17 possessions and three inside 50’s.

“Walla came through the middle a couple of times from stoppages and looked really dangerous and that was a way we manipulated that,” Zaharakis said.

“You can’t just run around and try to beat the tag that way, you’ve got to get your teammates involved and do it that way.”

Zaharakis is one of the longest serving Essendon players on the list this season. 

He concedes the side’s starts to matches have been frustrating, but said the team has been working hard to rectify their shortcomings at training.

“It’s frustrating when it takes that part of the game to be down 50 points to start playing instinctive footy, taking the game on, playing on through the middle,” he said. 

“It’s something we want to get in our game where we play with exciting ball movement.

"We’re not playing four quarters and we’re sort of feeling the game out first – whether that’s because we haven’t played a lot of footy together or whether that’s because we’re a young side – it’s certainly something we keep speaking about. 

“To play an attacking game of footy you’ve really got to back your instinct and hit the target as soon as you see it and not second guess yourself.

“That comes with a lot of games under your belt and a lot of practice, especially for young guys.”