J-Pod could play every game: Bicks

New Adelaide Crows forwards Eddie Betts and James Podsiadly. Picture: Sam Wundke. Source: News Limited

PERHAPS Brenton Sanderson's plans to manage James Podsiadly through the next two seasons were premature.

The Crows coach initially expected the former Geelong forward to play between 20 to 25 games during his two-year contract but throughout an impressive summer on the track Podsiadly has shown signs he's capable of more.

Adelaide forward coach Mark Bickley said Podsiadly had completed 90 per cent of the preseason workload and had less miles than the average 32 year old.

"Potentially he could play every game," Bickley said.

"His body is really sound. Sometimes when you look at his age you forget he didn't start playing until a little bit later in life.

"He probably hasn't endured the wear and tear someone else his age has."

Podsiadly was a surprise delisting at Geelong last year after his goals tally dipped for the second consecutive season - down from a career-best of 52 in 2011 to 33.

But Champion Data statistics reveal he spent just 34 per cent of game time inside the forward 50 in 2013, far less than his average from 2010-12 (47 per cent).

Despite this he was still ranked eighth in the AFL for tackles inside 50 as well as continuing to be one of the competition's best contested marks.

With Taylor Walker still cautiously planned to return between rounds 5-7, Podsiadly will be relied upon to spearhead Adelaide's attack in the early rounds.

And you get the impression when talking to Bickley that the mature-age success story - and fellow recruit Eddie Betts - will play key roles all season.

It will leave a host of other forwards - including Shaun McKernan, Lewis Johnston and Jared Petrenko - fighting for a spot in the 22.

"We've seen what Eddie and James Podsiadly have done for a number of games ... those guys have got some runs on the board," Bickley said.

"In terms of the rest of the guys they're all in a similar situation. They've all played between 15 and 30 games. They've all had their ups and downs.

"It's really going to come down to who can present themselves the best and make the most of their opportunities in the preseason."

Walker and Tom Lynch - who had major foot surgery after last season - are the only forwards still waiting to join the main group.

Bickley said he had high hopes for the Crows attack after a season in which he admitted it underperformed at times after the departure of Kurt Tippett and the loss of Walker to a knee injury.

"We did have a relatively inexperienced forward line," Bickley said.

"But having said that at different stages we expected some greater output from it. There were some disappointing things. Goalkicking was poor last year.

"We did expose some young players and that was good but at the same time we would have liked to have some greater output."

You're reading an article about
J-Pod could play every game: Bicks
This article
J-Pod could play every game: Bicks
can be opened in url
http://aflnewstop.blogspot.com/2014/01/j-pod-could-play-every-game-bicks.html
J-Pod could play every game: Bicks