David Zaharakis discusses his move to Bundoora and ambitions for 2022

David Zaharakis’ arrival at Bundoora was one of the biggest stories in local footy and the former Essendon star got a shock when he rocked up to training.

David Zaharakis got quite the surprise when he started training with Northern Football League powerhouse Bundoora.

Expecting to ease into local footy pre-season training after retiring from the AFL, the Bombers best-and-fairest winner got an eye-opening introduction to Yulong Reserve.

“I was saying to a couple of people the other week, in terms of AFL, it’s a lot less in terms of distance and you’re not on your legs every day of the week,” Zaharakis said.

“Actual training is actually harder, in terms of competitiveness.

“It’s actually a lot more competitive than I thought it would be.

David Zaharakis in action for Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

“In AFL you want to look after your teammates, you don’t want to injure them, and while you go hard at training there are also drills where you don’t tackle or sling them to the ground.

“The first night here I ran a handball game and the boys just cracked in in November, bodies on the deck and smashing each other.

“I couldn’t believe how hard the boys were going at it, that’s what has impressed me the most – how much these guys want to compete and win.”

Arguably the biggest signing of the NFL off-season, Zaharakis arrives with 226 games of AFL experience, the 2011 Crichton Medal and an Anzac Medal.

He joins former Richmond and Western Bulldogs forward Sam Lloyd in Bulls colours.

Having grown up in the northern suburbs and played NAB League with the Northern Knights, he already has several familiar faces at Bundoora.

Nathan Thomas and Brodric Gray are former Knights teammates, while Danny Younan was a mainstay and vice-captain of Essendon’s VFL program for several years

Fellow new recruit Jake Hobbs played seven VFL games for the Bombers last season and remains on their list.

He remained in the region while playing AFL and kept a close eye on the rise of the NFL and the influx of ex-AFL players in recent seasons.

“I’ve been following it closely, it’s going to be good, there’s a lot of AFL talent running around,” he said.

“You want the comp to be good, with good players wanting to come to the Northern footy league.

“The clubs have done some great recruiting clearly and there’s a lot of strong clubs around.

“The league has made a name for itself in the last five years for high-level footy and great, clean footy and it shows by the signings.”

Lloyd, Tom Bell, Nathan Hrovat, Brent Harvey and Ahmed Saad have all made instant impacts in the competition.

David Myers had signed for Northcote Park for the cancelled 2020 season and Lin Jong, Brayden Sier and Jarrad Waite have arrived for 2022.

Having played just three finals in his 13-year AFL career, Zaharakis has his eyes firmly set on the premiership.

“To be honest, I just want to play footy for another year and have a bit of fun,” he said.

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“I want to win a flag, I don’t think it diminishes whether its Northern footy or not, it’s pretty special to win a flag where ever you are or whatever league you play in.

“I want to win a flag with these boys because I know how much these boys want it, just from seeing them that first night.

“Everyone says when they leave AFL they miss that club feel, that camaraderie, but coming straight here I don’t miss it because I get it here.”

On top of Zaharakis and Hobbs, Bundoora has welcomed back 2017 premiership player Jack Furlong, James Condello and retained two-time best-and-fairest winner Bailey Thompson after a move to Western Australia fell through.