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Worries for former top 5 pick after missing practice match selection
SEN • February 20th, 2026 10:49 am
Eyebrows were raised on Thursday night as Essendon released their 30-man squad to face Richmond in an unofficial practice match at the NEC Hangar on Friday morning.
The Bombers explained reasons for all of Zach Merrett, Archie Perkins, Jordan Ridley and Mason Redman missing the game, but another name who wasn’t selected was Elijah Tsatas, with no reason offered up.
That prompted many to think that the 21-year-old has simply been overlooked, unable to break into an under-strength 30-man squad at a struggling club, despite this fourth season at the level.
Having originally been drafted at pick No. 5 in the 2022 Draft, Tsatas has failed to make an impact at the top level through 16 games, and Kane Cornes and David King are concerned about where he now sits, especially if he’s not close to the Dons’ top 30 players heading into 2026.
Cornes: “You’ve got some worries about a young Essendon midfielder?”
King: “A couple of text messages have come through as well, like he's not been named in the 30-man squad for today's practice match.”
Cornes: “That’s an issue. That's like not being picked for an internal trial.”
King: “I'm kind of hoping he's a bit sore, but I don't want him to be out or sore.
“Gee, that's a concern, isn't it?”
Cornes: “We're talking about Tsatas, of course, he had a couple of good pre-season games from memory this time last year but now is not even getting picked for a struggling side's 30-man squad.
“Maybe there's some other issues there, but I haven't heard any explanation from the Bombers yet.”
Friday’s clash between the Dons and Tigers begins at 10:30am AEDT.
