News

Zaharakis: I feel ready for AFL football

Friday, 3 April 2009
Craig Rowston for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

It might have been a VFL practice match but the numbers spoke for themselves and could not be ignored: 33 possessions and seven goals.

So impressive was the game of 19-year-old David Zaharakis last Saturday that the life-long Essendon supporter will now make his AFL debut against Fremantle on Sunday.

"I am pretty excited, the nerves haven't really kicked in yet but tomorrow nightI don't think I will be able to get much sleep," Zaharakis said.

"I was told on Thursday (yesterday) morning, Knighta called me in and said congratulations you are playing and then went through my role. He told me what to expect and I couldn't get the smile off my face.

"I have always wanted to play for Essendon so this is a dream come true. Coming to the club I didn't set any goals about playing a game and I just wanted to get through pre-season and thought that anything that happened from there would bea bonus."

Taken with pick No.23 in the 2008 NAB National Draft, the speedy midfielder is described by list manager, Adrian Dodoro, in the latest Bomber Magazine as having a "good footy brain" and "always seems to have an impact on what is happening".

'Zaka', as he is known at the club, was co-captain of the Vic Metro team(with Michael Hurley) in 2008 and was named in theU/18 All-Australian team that year.

He said Hurley, who made his AFL debut last week, has given his some advice ahead of the game.

"He told me to treat it as a normal game, he said you have played footy for 10-years so just play footy and don't get overawed. He said you know how to play and that is why you got picked so go out there and enjoy yourself.

"I have worked hard pre-season soI feel I have had enough time to get ready but going out there I won't really know what to expect so you do everything to get ready but you don't know what it will be like until you get out there."

Not to be outdone as a great footy story, 19-year-old Irishman, Michael Quinn, will also debut for the club on Sunday.

The Longford County local says one of the first people he contacted after learning of his debut was fellow Irishman, Marty Clarke, from Collingwood.

While Clarke amazed the football community by making his debut in Round 12 of his first season, Quinn's rise has been even more rapid.

His Round 2 debut will be the first time an International recruit has played a game for the Essendon Football Club.

The Essendon team is:

Backs: H.Slattery Daniher Myers

Half-backs: Pears Ryder Fletcher

Centres: Winderlich Stanton Lovett

Half-forwards: Monfries Lloyd McPhee

Forwards: Quinn Lucas Davey

Followers: Hille Watson Zaharakis

Interchange: Skipworth Dempsey Hocking Dyson

Emergency: Bellchambers Houli Neagle

Ins: Daniher Myers Quinn Zaharakis

Out: Lonergan (fractured hand) Hurley (quad) Neagle (omitted) Houli (omitted)

PLAYER PROFILE: Michael Quinn
PLAYER PROFILE: David Zaharakis

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Congrats Zaka and Quinn. I still don't no why Knights is persisting with Dyson. I cant find any difference between the game that dyson played and the game that bachar played but bachar is dropped. Dyson has had heaps of chances (over 50 games) while bachar is a part of our future and needs game time. I don't get it.

- Nathan Beever (posted 3/04/2009 5:28:21 PM)

why is slattery and dempsey getting a game over houli

- eddie pascoe (posted 3/04/2009 5:57:17 PM)

good luck to both players however does anyone else think it is an indictment on the club and game in general that someone can play at the highest level after 5 practice/trial vfl games. It just goes to show atheletes rather than genuine footballers play these days. I may be a dinosaur but bring back the old days.

- Greg Kemp (posted 3/04/2009 6:15:28 PM)

I would of hoped neagle would be in he needs as much experience as possible lucas should have a run in the seconds oh and stupid choice leaving bellchambers out sandilands tallest bloke in the comp hille only ruckman with paddy to pinch hit hilles will have a long hard day.

- Jeddy Telescourt (posted 3/04/2009 6:19:20 PM)

I congratulate the selectors on giving Zaharakis and Quinn their opportunity. From the little I have seen of them it is a good decision for the long-term future of the club. It's a pity Lonergan didn't get the same early opportunities because he certainly deserved them.

- Colin Duck (posted 3/04/2009 6:49:15 PM)

can someone please tell me why Dyson is still in there and Houli is out !!! He has been around long enough and shown nothing !! He should be paying the club to play ! On top of that he is scared !!

- Daniel Hegarty (posted 3/04/2009 7:05:34 PM)

Don't Like Dyson in the team. I would have kept Neagle or Houli- they have something to offer. I reckon try Dempsey in the centre- he's a gun & will make things happen. Can't believe those Port boys who were tormenting Lovett all day and then expecting him to stick up for them at the tribuneral?? Are they completely stupid over there- uhm yeh.

- Roger Youil (posted 3/04/2009 7:49:31 PM)

Have a great game Zaka.

- Richard Hayward (posted 3/04/2009 7:52:06 PM)

Hille's gonna have his work cut out against Sandilands without any assistance. Bellchambers should be in. What's the deal with Jetta? Surely he's ahead of Quinn? Anyway, good luck to him and Zaka for their debuts on Sunday, let's get on the board for 2009!

- Adrian Betts (posted 3/04/2009 8:23:14 PM)

Neagle omitted? I thought Knights was getting games into the kids that are taking over after the big three retire? Not a great move omitting this guy. He'll be great but he needs the experience. And Houli? Why drop these guys that have showed such promise??? Congrats to Quinn and Zaka though. Good luck boys.

- Emily Paton (posted 3/04/2009 10:27:51 PM)

Great to read about Zaharakis and Quinn but the ommisions of Neagle and Houli astound me. I'd rather see those two young blokes who need as much match practice as possible than see Dyson and Daniher or Pears who have not at all made an impression on me as yet. I'll be there supporting either way and Go Dons!

- Leigh Farrugia (posted 3/04/2009 11:55:21 PM)

Good luck to Zaka and Quinny, hope you have a great game.I have faith and belief in what Knights is doing,just as much as I still believe in the Easter Bunny.

- Elbows Bull (posted 4/04/2009 12:30:14 AM)

Spot on Roger, Dempsey should be tried in the middle. I also think Lovett-Murray should be in the forward line with Jetta in the pocket. Ricky has got some run and long kicking to offer, He just needs to provide it more often. Go Quinny and Zaka, Go Bombers.

- Cory Williams (posted 4/04/2009 1:22:37 AM)

i'd rather see houli in the team rather then dyson at this time and also neagle, lucas should have a run for a couple weeks in the vfl he is performing very low apart from that hopefully we get all four points on sunday

- Jason Grech (posted 4/04/2009 7:23:02 AM)

Congrats Zaka, enjoy the your first game of AFL, reward for all your hard work however this but the beginning where the hard work continues as all those other buggers will be trying to knock you off. All the very best may you have a wonderful experience. The Ivers family are all shouting for yoy. James

- James Ivers (posted 4/04/2009 9:53:25 AM)

Congrats Dave, Great to see another Knight don the Red & Black As for all the Dyson Naysayers, tell me one bloke in the whole 44 senior listed who can deliever like him? yes he is a bit outside of the packs, but thats where u want the guys who can kick. Buckley won a brownlow doing the same thing. Rather a Dyson or a Nash kicking 50m to the chest, giving the out of sorts forwards a chance at a lead than Stanton or Watson missing them by 25 metres

- Lauren Brennan (posted 4/04/2009 12:34:11 PM)

Go you little champion! Absolutely fantastic to see (for once!) an actual Bomber fan making the list & being selected. Makes the heart swell... So sick of seeing other clubs unveil future stars. We've already seen Hurley, now for his offsider at Northern Knights... Also Michael Quinn. Will he be a future champion? One has got to come along sooner or later...

- Dennis Green (posted 4/04/2009 12:38:20 PM)

Good stuff Zaka, the more games we get in to our new guys, and the big three are gone the quicker we can move on and get this club back up to where it belongs. Doesn't make sense why Houli is out and Dyson is still in, he won't put his head over the ball.. he has had enough chances !

- Daniel Hegarty (posted 4/04/2009 1:10:09 PM)

why is dyson and h slattery still in? jedda and atkinson would be a lot better

- don carter (posted 4/04/2009 1:12:17 PM)

Neagle out, Lloyd playing ruck rover, 2 more long years and its GOOD KNIGHTA??? Best of luck ZAKA I'm sure you'll put in 100 per cent unlike some of your other team mates. Also last comment for the board OH WHAT VISION??? to make us WOODEN SPOONERS.

- steve rendevski (posted 4/04/2009 1:50:09 PM)

dyson isnt that bad he does his job in the side unlike the worst tagger ever henry slattery

- eddie pascoe (posted 4/04/2009 6:21:27 PM)

they better win on sunday

- Norman Cacciattolo (posted 4/04/2009 7:53:26 PM)

Its been a few seasons since I have heard us sqabbling over selections and at the same time juggling alternatives. Well done to all the Club - we have a few "quality problems" now ;) We ain't seen nothin like the mighty Quinn

- Barney Sneddon (posted 4/04/2009 11:46:26 PM)

zaka and attkinson should always be in the side ahead of slatery and dyson because they are ball magnets and the other two caunt win the ball and kick to the opposition slattery is too short for that role

- PETER theodosiou (posted 5/04/2009 12:01:29 AM)

jetta should be ahead of monfries and houli should be ahead of winderlech

- PETER theodosiou (posted 5/04/2009 12:05:24 AM)

this team is a disgrace. Houli out Neagle out, Dyson STILL in!!!! I cant wait till Knights gets the sack so we can get a real coach.......................

- Trevor Swain (posted 5/04/2009 12:30:29 PM)

Free speech is all well & good, but what the hell is the point of bagging the players and hoping for the coach to be sacked (Trevor Swain, 5/4)...? Comments like this are absolutely pathetic and display ignorance of how footy clubs work. Ever heard of developing young players? Well, that's what the Bombers are doing. Matty Knights is showing faith in our youngsters. It's a shame that some so called supporters see their role as self appointed experts who know better from a distance than the professionals employed to manage the team. Disgraceful!

- Dennis Green (posted 5/04/2009 6:15:55 PM)

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