David Zaharakis
Encyclopedia
David Zaharakis is an Australian rules football
er for Essendon
in the Australian Football League
who is of Greek
heritage.
in the TAC Cup
and was captain in 2008. He finished Year 12 in the same year at Marcellin College
where he also won the Terrance Cleary Memorial Sporting Award for sportsmanship and sporting excellence.
Zaharakis was awarded Essendon's number 11 guernsey which was previously worn by Damien Peverill
and has been his number throughout most of his junior career. Zaharakis kicked his first goal for Essendon in the final seconds of the 2009 Anzac Day match
to beat Collingwood
by five points.
He played 10 games in his debut season and 20 in 2010. His 2011 season has been his most consistent and impressive season to date. He capped off the year by winning his first Crichton Medal as Essendon's best & fairest player.
Zaharakis played his junior football with Eltham Junior Football Club. He is also a soccer fan and supports Melbourne Victory
and Manchester United. Zaharakis is also a talented basketballer, earning Australian Marist V honours in 2007.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
who is of Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
heritage.
Career
Zaharakis was selected by Essendon, the team he supported all his life, with their second (23rd overall) pick in the 2008 AFL Draft. He had previously been playing with the Northern KnightsNorthern Knights
The Northern Knights are an Australian rules football club playing in the TAC Cup, an under-18 competition in Victoria, Australia. They are based in Preston, representing the northern suburban area of Melbourne....
in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
and was captain in 2008. He finished Year 12 in the same year at Marcellin College
Marcellin College
Marcellin College is a Marist Catholic secondary boys' school situated in Bulleen, Victoria, Australia.The school was founded in 1950 by the Marist Brothers originally in Camberwell...
where he also won the Terrance Cleary Memorial Sporting Award for sportsmanship and sporting excellence.
Zaharakis was awarded Essendon's number 11 guernsey which was previously worn by Damien Peverill
Damien Peverill
Damien Peverill is an Australian rules footballer who played 144 senior games with Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League between 2001 and 2008...
and has been his number throughout most of his junior career. Zaharakis kicked his first goal for Essendon in the final seconds of the 2009 Anzac Day match
The ANZAC Day clash
The Anzac Day clash is an annual Australian rules football match between Australian Football League teams Collingwood and Essendon, held on Anzac Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground .-Early history of Australian rules on Anzac Day:...
to beat Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
by five points.
He played 10 games in his debut season and 20 in 2010. His 2011 season has been his most consistent and impressive season to date. He capped off the year by winning his first Crichton Medal as Essendon's best & fairest player.
Zaharakis played his junior football with Eltham Junior Football Club. He is also a soccer fan and supports Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
and Manchester United. Zaharakis is also a talented basketballer, earning Australian Marist V honours in 2007.
2008
- All-Australian U18
- Co-Captain of Vic Metro U18
- Vic Metro U18
- Captain of Northern Knights U18