Will this be Podsiadly's swan song?

[you pick one]

My best information has him listed till the end of 2012,so he will need another contract.

My feelings are if he he doesn't come back as good as new this season from the shoulder injury suffered in the GF he will be in trouble,his game in my opinion centers around his over head marking as a lead up forward,crash and bash is o/k but you really have to hold a few and this is where the shoulders are so important.

Anything less than his absolute best could see him as the Cameron Mooney of 2012,as Scott looks to the forward line of the future built around Hawkins and will be keen to have a look again at Brown who's put on a few kgs and maybe one of Kerston,Walker,or Hamling if he decides to go tall,

There is always the 2011 G/F option open,and a bloke by the name of Menzel might be looking for a spot later this year.

I'm a J.Pod fan, a wonderful story nothing made me happier than seeing him and Lonners with Premiership medals around their necks.

But for the Pods this year will be it,IMHO.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

interesting thought ypo
I just believe Pods is such a well-built specimen that he will only retire when he himself feels his body can no longer cope.

I have not seen any indication of that so far and if anything...he has steadily improved the past 18 months.
His shoulder injury was quite severe but he should be right to go later in the season, you gotta remember that he was 2nd in the AFL for contested marks, he's got an enormous spring, incredible upper body strength and booming left kick, just can't see him slowing down for another couple years yet and will likely be around for such time imo

 

[vinum coupe]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

I reckon he'll get another year.

And my gut feel on Pods that is if the club said "we want you on the list in 2013, but you will most likely be used as a rotator between the AFL and the VFL so that we can get games into kids and have good depth" he'd happily do it for the club.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

I think they'll give him every chance to get to 100 games (end of 2014 - 58 games required). Nothing about his injury suggests 'career-ending' to me. And I think we'll need him anyway. Granted, Brown or Vardy (or Kersten/Hamling) might develop rapidly and put him out of a job. But we figure to be one of the youngest teams in the league by then (it would be expected that Scarlett, Wojcinski, Enright, Chapman, Corey, Hunt and maybe Stephenson would be gone by then) and I think his experience will be invaluable.

I'm not saying in any way that we should put personal milestones ahead of short/long-term success, but what a great story it would be if Pods made it to 100 games. I think he can do it.

 

[year of the cat]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

Last year in 2013 I would think. The decision would be as much about passing the baton onto a new generation of KPF's as it would be about whether Pods was worthy of a further year.

 

[you pick one]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

I think they'll give him every chance to get to 100 games (end of 2014 - 58 games required). Nothing about his injury suggests 'career-ending' to me. And I think we'll need him anyway. Granted, Brown or Vardy (or Kersten/Hamling) might develop rapidly and put him out of a job. But we figure to be one of the youngest teams in the league by then (it would be expected that Scarlett, Wojcinski, Enright, Chapman, Corey, Hunt and maybe Stephenson would be gone by then) and I think his experience will be invaluable.

I'm not saying in any way that we should put personal milestones ahead of short/long-term success, but what a great story it would be if Pods made it to 100 games. I think he can do it.

For Pods it would be,I'm not so sure it would be for the Geelong Footy Club,It would mean none of our young forwards kicked on or were poached by other clubs.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

For Pods it would be,I'm not so sure it would be for the Geelong Footy Club,It would mean none of our young forwards kicked on or were poached by other clubs.

Mitch Brown would have just turned 24 and his body type suggests that if he can stay healthy, he'd be better for us as a rangy third forward (Pods and Hawkins have got nearly 20kg on him). I don't see a problem with Brown easing into his senior career over the next three years with 30-50 games in this role and, as long as he can stay healthy, I'm sure we'll find a spot for him there.

Nathan Vardy will have turned 23 that season and will probably be splitting time between ruck and forward until Pods retires (whenever that is). Again, if he stays injury free, I see no reason why he can't play several games in this role, with Hawkins and Pods in the forward line as well. Kersten and Hamling (who can play elsewhere) will be 21 and if they can get 10-20 games into them over the next three seasons, great.

If Tom Hawkins takes the massive step that many of us are predicting, maybe Pods' place in the team will need to be questioned earlier. But I just think until he got injured in the grand final, his second half of 2011 had been superb (he averaged nearly three goals a game from round 10 until the preliminary final) especially considering his injury in the game against Richmond and the fact that Mooney took his place in the side (and kicked five) in the training drill against Melbourne. I don't think there's any doubt that Pods could have kicked at least 5-6 in that game. I reckon we're being a bit quick to discard a 50-60 goals a year forward, especially when he's playing as well as he ever has right now.

 

[The rabbi]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

Looks like Mr PureOwnage is going to refuse to take the bait YPO.

 

[you pick one]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

But I just think until he got injured in the grand final, his second half of 2011 had been superb (he averaged nearly three goals a game from round 10 until the preliminary final).

I thought his first half of the season was better,take our Brisbane and Gold Coast in the second half of the season who are poor to say the least and I reckon he was starting to struggle, he kicked a few on Hawthorns short people in the first final,and although trying hard in the GF really had no impact.
There is a school of thought that Pods coming off injured was the best thing for the Geelong forward line that day.
Pods and Hawkins don't have to many big days out together,Brisbane was one, can't remember to many others.

 

[CF]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

PODS will be 31 this year so his window of opportunity is closing that is for sure. If Hawkins can build on his 2011 final series performance and emerge as a force to be reckoned with then we may see PODS take a back seat to the Tomahawk for a change. But we all know how things really work at clubs and if PODS can perform at his best in 2012 then he will stay our No 1. KPF. But you have to wonder how many more seasons PODS will be around. I am tipping only 2 seasons tops. Tomahawk is the future though.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

I thought his first half of the season was better,take our Brisbane and Gold Coast in the second half of the season who are poor to say the least and I reckon he was starting to struggle, he kicked a few on Hawthorns short people in the first final,and although trying hard in the GF really had no impact.
There is a school of thought that Pods coming off injured was the best thing for the Geelong forward line that day.
Pods and Hawkins don't have to many big days out together,Brisbane was one, can't remember to many others.

That school of thought is specifically due to the Collingwood lineup and the fact that they couldn't figure out who to put Maxwell on with this new-look forward line. Almost every other contending team both last year and this year would be in a better position to win the game if Pods went off injured and I'm sure it would have been an area which Collingwood has focused on since.

He won us the round 12 game against Hawthorn, I don't think there can be any serious doubt about that. BOG by a mile. Yeah, Gibson's undersized, but how many other key forwards took him to the cleaners in 2011? Cloke, J. Riewoldt and Buddy didn't come close to matching what Pods did against Brisbane (where he was also possibly the difference between us winning and losing the game) and Gold Coast.

In Pods' first seven games of 2011, he kicked ten goals, on five occasions he kicked one and he never kicked more than three (once). From round ten onwards, he kicked three or more goals eight times. How this could be interpreted as 'slowing down' I'll never know. Critically, the whole 'hopeless away from Kardinia Park' theory about Pods was blown out of the water, as well.

I think there's little doubt that if Pods had played the whole season (he missed the Round 1 game against St Kilda, the Round 19 game against Melbourne and came off early against Richmond and in the grand final), he would have kicked 60+ goals. Mooney's the only other one who's done that in fifteen years. Vardy is not ready to be a full-time spearhead for our team and Brown definitely isn't, though they are talented enough for senior football. If Pods continues to pump out 2.5-3.0 goals a game, it's going to be difficult to nudge him out the door. Yeah we've got talented youngsters, but they've got to earn their spot.

 

[Vdubs]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

Performance based. If he is a contributor this year, as he already has been, surely he'll be offered a Wojo style annual ONE YEAR contract until his use by date.

 

[you pick one]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

That school of thought is specifically due to the Collingwood lineup and the fact that they couldn't figure out who to put Maxwell on with this new-look forward line. Almost every other contending team both last year and this year would be in a better position to win the game if Pods went off injured and I'm sure it would have been an area which Collingwood has focused on since.

He won us the round 12 game against Hawthorn, I don't think there can be any serious doubt about that. BOG by a mile. Yeah, Gibson's undersized, but how many other key forwards took him to the cleaners in 2011? Cloke, J. Riewoldt and Buddy didn't come close to matching what Pods did against Brisbane (where he was also possibly the difference between us winning and losing the game) and Gold Coast.

In Pods' first seven games of 2011, he kicked ten goals, on five occasions he kicked one and he never kicked more than three (once). From round ten onwards, he kicked three or more goals eight times. How this could be interpreted as 'slowing down' I'll never know. Critically, the whole 'hopeless away from Kardinia Park' theory about Pods was blown out of the water, as well.

I think there's little doubt that if Pods had played the whole season (he missed the Round 1 game against St Kilda, the Round 19 game against Melbourne and came off early against Richmond and in the grand final), he would have kicked 60+ goals. Mooney's the only other one who's done that in fifteen years. Vardy is not ready to be a full-time spearhead for our team and Brown definitely isn't, though they are talented enough for senior football. If Pods continues to pump out 2.5-3.0 goals a game, it's going to be difficult to nudge him out the door. Yeah we've got talented youngsters, but they've got to earn their spot.

We could go around in circles here all day, the way I'm splitting it is his first 11 games he kicked 25 goals, his second 12 games he kicked 27 goals including 8 against Brisbane, I was there and their back line were second rate that day and 5 against the Gold Coast in a belting and also failed to kick a major 4 times in his last 12 games.
This is the basis for thinking his first half of the season was better.
Happy for you to have the last say MC.and happy to be totally wrong about it being his last season,lets hope the shoulder is as good as new.

 

[you pick one]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

Looks like Mr PureOwnage is going to refuse to take the bait YPO.

Stick the boot in while he's away rabbi

 

[vinum coupe]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

P.O is obviously just a fair weather supporter.
That or didn't he just get married? I assume the Internet privileges are lost already

 

[you pick one]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

P.O is obviously just a fair weather supporter.
That or didn't he just get married? I assume the Internet privileges are lost already

I wonder how she will handle him wearing the smelly old no31 to bed.

 

[Turbocat]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

Being a late starter who nows how much is left in the Pod , could be more than just another two.

As far as keeping other players out of the side.... generally water does find it own level. If kid demands a place , he will get a game. If performs he he will get more ..... till he may become the preferred pick. eg Menzel.

If we use Hawkins as eg , our kids may be still be multiple seasons away from pushing Pods out of the side.

Brown , he may be Mackie/Lonergan type and be worth waiting for but I suspect we will have to wait a while yet. Hamling probably similar.

 

[Megaman123]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

The great part about Pods is he knows how to prepare and look after injuries better than any other player. He may be older, but not being in the intense AFL system for as long as most others may have a positive longevity on his career. I guess the big question will be his shoulder and how well it recovers, but you would assume he will do everything to make sure it holds him in good stead. Body wise, he could have another 3 or even 4 years if his shoulder holds.

 

[Rosso]

Re: Will this be j.pods swan song.

Beware of making the "too old, too slow" call early. You might just get shown up.

Pods has played a big part in our success so far and 2013 is pretty much guaranteed as long as he keeps it up.

A bit like Ponting and Hussey. Unless someone steps up and demands the spot then Pods is safe. Vards is probably the one that could handle the key forward role but needs time to develop both his body and the ability to play the role required. Brown may be better suited as the 3rd tall and this years recruits are unknown for the time being.

Sign 1 year contracts from 2013 is a pretty safe bet.

 

[Turbocat]

Rosso , I wonder if the Aust. Cricket side is an ideal comparison? I doubt Pods will get the extended run of chances that some in Cricket seem to get. Some think that Cricket should be far more proactive with inserting youth but I do agree its much harder in Cricket than AFL. Perhaps the ruck position would be similar as its also tough to climb over established players.

But sometimes you have to just get tough and bite the bullet. For eg. , Geelong has done this with Moons and Dasher. Would have been very easy to go for them over youth and the guys like Bundy may have missed playing in a GF.

I seem to arguing against myself. I agree youth must be given its time , we must ensure we don't end up playing with the Grace McKeller best 18 but I feel I think we have a good handle on transition and Pods has still got k's in the tyres.

 

[Selective Retention]

Pods dropping off on the field and having to find a replacement is a bigger issue than when Pods finishes up.

If he ends up going on a year too long it doesn't really matter.

He wouldn't be on a big contract, nor would there be an issue dropping him like say a Ling if he had played on and struggled.

Even if he retired mid season and didn't play VFL he still has value in a fitness role.

If Pods drops off this year, and Hawkins goes back to regular season Hawkins, we'll be screwed. Kersten is probably our most AFL ready forward coming through, and that says it all.

 

[HappyChappy35]

Aside from that shoulder injury in the GF, his body seems to be holding up very well for a 30 year old footballer, particularly for a forward that crashes packs etc. quite frequently. Very well-built player with a lot of upper body strength and fitness wise he looks in great shape, so this could see him poised for another 2-3 seasons at the Cattery. Obviously this will depend somewhat on how his body handles the next year or so, but a lot of signs point to Pods continuing to be an asset in our forward line for the next two seasons or so.

 

[Belisarius]

My bet is he will play 2 more seasons - then maybe become more of an in and out player just depending on how players like Vardy and Kersten have matured in this time.

 

[candiehappy]

My bet is he will play 2 more seasons - then maybe become more of an in and out player just depending on how players like Vardy and Kersten have matured in this time.

tend to agree with the above - and of course it depends on who is coming through to take his position. Just hoping that there is no backward momentum from his shoulder injury - either in confidence or physically.

 

[Hinkley29]

Prognosticating about how long players will last is a dangerous game at the best of times, but with Pods it is almost impossible. How many players have had the same career arc in the AFL as Pods? There is almost no precedence to what he has done, and predicting how he will go over the coming year(s?) is almost impossible IMHO.