Pods backs mature draft picks

VFL trailblazer James Podsiadly has paid tribute to AFL clubs for their left-field recruiting of mature-age talent as they prepare to plunder stateleague talent this week.

Podsiadly’s recruitment at 28 sent shockwaves through the conservative recruiting fraternity but he went on to play 104 games with Geelong and Adelaide, including the Cats’ 2011 flag win.

A decade on from his recruitment in the 2009 rookie draft, AFL’s clubs have caught on, recruiting dozens of state league players in the past year.

Richmond’s Marlion Pickett and Collingwood’s Jon Noble played finals after being selected from state league sides in the mid-season draft.

Podsiadly is reluctant to be the pin-up boy for mature-age recruitment but said he was thrilled so many kids were getting a chance so long after they were first eligible to be drafted.

“I think everyone just matures and grows at different rates and my story is an extreme example but in the last couple of years, the Tim Kellys of the world who need a few more years to mature are out there and I think they will continue to be out there,” he said.

“The AFL have done a pretty good job in opening up different avenues for players to be selected in the last 12 months.

“There is the mid-season draft but you can sign players from state leagues and delisted players until the start of the season. So to have some more flexibility makes clubs think a little bit differently and think outside the box.”

In last year’s national draft, state league players Josh Corbett, Chris Burgess and Sam Collins went to the Suns; while the Blues traded state league players Nathan Kreuger to the Cats and Shane McAdam to the Crows.

Former Collingwood rookie Podsiadly is excited by the potential of new Pie John Noble.

“He wasn’t on the radar coming out of the under-18s but he’s had a good stint at SANFL level, he can run, he’s got a good kick on him and he plays in a prelim,” he said.