Essendon fans have been left completely baffled by the club’s decision to drop Elijah Tsatas for Saturday’s game against Brisbane, with supporters already predicting he will request a trade at season’s end.
The Bombers put together a solid few weeks after a rough start to the season but came back to Earth with a brutal 77-point loss to Collingwood on ANZAC Day.
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Tsatas has had 18, 25 and 29 disposals in his three games this year and was looking like he might get an extended run in the senior side, especially with midfielder Darcy Parish managed this week.
But Tsatas was omitted at the selection table on Thursday night, much to the astonishment of Bombers supporters.
Footy reporter Rohan Connolly wrote on X: “Was prepared to give Essendon coaching panel benefit of doubt over Elijah Tsatas’s harsh treatment at selection the last couple of seasons, but having finally come back in and played his best footy yet, dropping him again now after three games just doesn’t make sense. Baffling.”
Brad Klibansky wrote: “It’s time for Elijah Tsatas to find a new club!”
The Bombers Banter account posted: “The worst part about the Elijah Tsatas handling is you just know he’s going elsewhere and thriving.
“Just utterly baffling areas, I cannot find a reasonable explanation given another inside mid is being rested for this game.”
Nat Martin said: “Did Elijah Tsatas run over Brad Scott’s dog?”
Tsatas has been on the outer under coach Brad Scott, playing just 19 games in four seasons for the Bombers since being taken at pick No. 5 in the 2022 AFL Draft.
He was praised by Scott earlier this month, only to be dropped weeks later.
“I’ve spoken about it the last couple of weeks, I love these reward effort stories because everyone sees the reward publicly, but that don’t see the effort behind the scenes,” Scott said.
“(Tsatas) has had some things to work on and to his credit, he’s gone to work on it on his own admission.”
Fans pointed out similarities to the likes of Bachar Houli and Massimo D’Ambrosio, who were on the outer at Essendon before changing clubs and having a bigger role.
Sports reporter Chris Da Silva said: “Can’t help but feel that Essendon’s handling of Elijah Tsatas mirrors what they did with Bachar Houli.
“Yanked Houli’s career around for a few years before he lost patience and went to Richmond and became a gun. Tsatas is going to go somewhere else and be elite.”
Essendon do welcome back Nik Cox for his first AFL game in 630 days on Saturday against the Brisbane Lions, where the Bombers are huge outsiders.
Reigning Carlton best and fairest winner George Hewett is also being tipped to request a trade after he was again left out by the Blues for Sunday’s game against St Kilda.
Carlton recalled halfback flanker Adam Saad but dropped Cooper Lord, a surprising decision given Lord was expected to play a tagging role on St Kilda’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
Watch Essendon vs the Brisbane Lions on Saturday at 12.35pm AEST on Kayo Sports
