James Podsiadly
Encyclopedia
James Podsiadly is an Australian rules football
er for Geelong
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). He was drafted as a mature-aged rookie in the 2010 Rookie Draft.
suburb of Spotswood
. Growing up he played soccer and tennis
, and began playing football
seriously at the age of 17. When Podsiadly was ten, his grandfather became a significant influence in his life. Podsiadly's grandfather was a soldier in the Polish
army during World War II
, was captured and spent 12 months in a concentration camp near the German
town of Arnsberg
. His grandfather and grandmother emigrated to Australia in the mid-1940s.
and the Western Jets
, Podsiadly was recruited by Essendon
in the 1999 AFL Rookie Draft with pick 58. After playing 19 games with Essendon's reserves team in the VFL
, Podsiadly was de-listed but was once again drafted as Collingwood
selected him in the 2001 AFL Rookie Draft with the eighth pick.
Podsiadly played three games for Collingwood in the AFL Pre-Season
competition of 2002. However, he did not play during the regular season and was delisted at the end of the year.
for the 2003 season. He won the club's best & fairest award and the Frosty Miller medal
as the VFL's leading goal kicker in 2005, breaking Nick Sautner
's six-year winning streak. During the 2005 AFL pre-season he trained with Werribee's former AFL affiliate, the Western Bulldogs
and then in 2006 with Richmond
.
During the 2008 VFL season, Podsiadly played his 100th game for Werribee and won his second best and fairest at the club. He also won the 2008 J. J. Liston Trophy
.
Podsiadly qualified for VFL life membership in 2009.
Podsiadly represented the VFL in three state games and was named in the VFL's team of the year in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009.
in the 2009 AFL rookie draft at the age of 28 and played his first AFL game against Fremantle
in round three of 2010. He was awarded 13 Brownlow Medal
votes in his first year of AFL football.
During the 2011 season
, Podsiadly kicked 52 goals and averaged over 12 disposals per game.
Podsiadly played in the 2011 AFL Grand Final
, where Geelong beat . He was substituted out of the game in the second quarter after suffering a shoulder injury.
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 Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
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...
(AFL). He was drafted as a mature-aged rookie in the 2010 Rookie Draft.
Early life
Podsiadly grew up in the MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburb of Spotswood
Spotswood, Victoria
Spotswood is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay...
. Growing up he played soccer and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and began playing football
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...
seriously at the age of 17. When Podsiadly was ten, his grandfather became a significant influence in his life. Podsiadly's grandfather was a soldier in the Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, was captured and spent 12 months in a concentration camp near the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
town of Arnsberg
Arnsberg
Arnsberg is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the location of the Regierungsbezirk Arnsberg's administration and one of the three local administration offices of the Hochsauerlandkreis.-Geography:...
. His grandfather and grandmother emigrated to Australia in the mid-1940s.
AFL career (2000–2002)
Originally playing for the Yarraville Football ClubYarraville Football Club
Yarraville Football Club was an Australian rules football club founded in 1903 and played in the VJFA until 1927. In 1928, the club joined the VFA where it played until 1984 when the club went into recess. In 1996, the Kingsville Football Club in the FDFL who by this time had taken over the...
and the Western Jets
Western Jets
The Western Jets Football Club are an Australian rules football club who play in the U18 competition, the TAC Cup. The club have developmental squads in the U15 and 16 age groups, however much of the attention is towards its U18 team....
, Podsiadly was recruited by 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 1999 AFL Rookie Draft with pick 58. After playing 19 games with Essendon's reserves team in the VFL
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
, Podsiadly was de-listed but was once again drafted as Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
selected him in the 2001 AFL Rookie Draft with the eighth pick.
Podsiadly played three games for Collingwood in the AFL Pre-Season
Australian Football League pre-season competition
The Australian Football League pre-season competition, which is known at present as the NAB Cup, is a competition held before the beginning of the Australian Football League premiership season...
competition of 2002. However, he did not play during the regular season and was delisted at the end of the year.
Werribee (2003–2008)
Podsiadly was recruited by the VFL club, WerribeeWerribee Football Club
The Werribee Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club, based in Werribee, was formed in 1965 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League. Werribee was defeated by the Sandringham Football Club in the 2005 VFL Grand Final.-History:The Werribee Football Club...
for the 2003 season. He won the club's best & fairest award and the Frosty Miller medal
Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal
The Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal is awarded to the leading goalkicker in the Victorian Football League . The Medal was named in 1999 in honour of Jim Miller who was the VFL leading goalkicker on six occasions. Nick Sautner currently holds the record for most medals with nine, his most recent coming in...
as the VFL's leading goal kicker in 2005, breaking Nick Sautner
Nick Sautner
Nicholas 'Nick' Sautner is an Australian rules footballer, best known for his Victorian Football League football career with the Sandringham Zebras. He has also spent time at Preston in 2003, and Frankston in 2001 and 2002....
's six-year winning streak. During the 2005 AFL pre-season he trained with Werribee's former AFL affiliate, the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
and then in 2006 with Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
.
During the 2008 VFL season, Podsiadly played his 100th game for Werribee and won his second best and fairest at the club. He also won the 2008 J. J. Liston Trophy
J. J. Liston Trophy
The J. J. Liston Trophy is awarded to the best and fairest senior player in the Victorian Football League .-History:The VFA awarded the Recorder Cup from 1923 to 1941, and also ran a different award known as the VFA Medal .After a hiatus in 1942 to 1944 due to World War II, a best and fairest award...
.
Geelong VFL (2009)
After six seasons with Werribee, Podsiadly left the club to take up a dual role as a player and fitness coach at the Geelong VFL club. He captained the side in the 2009 VFL season, won the club's best & fairest award and was their leading goal-kicker, with 68 goals.Podsiadly qualified for VFL life membership in 2009.
Podsiadly represented the VFL in three state games and was named in the VFL's team of the year in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009.
AFL career (2010–)
Podsiadly was selected as a mature aged rookie by GeelongGeelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in the 2009 AFL rookie draft at the age of 28 and played his first AFL game against Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
in round three of 2010. He was awarded 13 Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
votes in his first year of AFL football.
During the 2011 season
2011 AFL season
The 2011 Australian Football League season was the 115th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the debut year for , and was scheduled to be the only season to be played with 17 teams...
, Podsiadly kicked 52 goals and averaged over 12 disposals per game.
Podsiadly played in the 2011 AFL Grand Final
2011 AFL Grand Final
The 2011 Australian Football League Grand Final was an Australian rules football match, played to determine the premiers of the 2011 season. It was contested between the Collingwood Football Club and the Geelong Football Club....
, where Geelong beat . He was substituted out of the game in the second quarter after suffering a shoulder injury.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct as of 24 September 2011 (Preliminary Finals, 2011 season). Averages are in brackets.
| Season | Team | # | Games | Disposals | Kicks Kick (football) Kicking is a method used by many types of football, including:* Association football* Australian rules football* International rules football* American football* Canadian football* Gaelic football* Rugby league* Rugby union... |
Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Tackles Tackle (football move) Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend.... |
Goals | Behinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 44 | |||||||||
| 2002 2002 AFL season -Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 176... |
39 | |||||||||
| 2010 2010 AFL season -Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22... |
31 | 19 | 253 (13.3) | 184 (8.6) | 89 (4.7) | 130 (6.8) | 40 (2.1) | 49 (2.6) | 28 (1.5) | |
| 2011 2011 AFL season The 2011 Australian Football League season was the 115th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the debut year for , and was scheduled to be the only season to be played with 17 teams... |
Geelong | 31 | 22 | 278 (12.6) | 187 (8.5) | 91 (4.1) | 130 (5.9) | 47 (2.1) | 52 (2.4) | 37 (1.7) |
| Career totals | 41 | 531 (13.0) | 351 (8.6) | 180 (4.4) | 260 (6.3) | 87 (2.1) | 101 (2.5) | 65 (1.6) | ||