James Podsiadly says Crows defender should be All Australian
JAMES Podsiadly doesn't want to heap pressure on teammate and Adelaide full back Daniel Talia, but the veteran forward believes Talia is working his way towards All Australian selection.
Podsiadly could be on the money; Talia has conceded just one goal in his last four games.
Last weekend, the 22-year-old defender kept Gold Coast's Tom Lynch scoreless after Lynch had booted 15 goals in his previous four matches.
The 2012 NAB AFL Rising Star has taken his game to new heights this year, drawing lavish praise from coaches and players alike.
Podsiadly said that if the All Australian team was to be picked this week, Talia ought to be the side's premier defender.
"I don't want to put words into All Australian selectors' [mouths] but I reckon we've got an All Australian fullback in Daniel Talia at the moment," Podsiadly said.
"If you look at the halfway mark of the season, he's done a fantastic job at stopping some of the game's elite forwards.
"I look at the in-form backmen in the comp and I reckon he's right up there … when it comes to game day he's executing his role for the team immensely well, so I hope he gets rewarded down the track."
Although drafted to Adelaide as a key forward, Podsiadly has looked in fine form switching between attack and defence.
Upon his arrival to West Lakes, the 32-year-old claimed he'd be ready to play every game this season and has delivered so far, featuring in each of the Crows' 10 matches.
Importantly for the Crows, Podsiadly has found a way to co-exist with the club's number one key forward, Taylor Walker.
The pair worked seamlessly together last week against the Suns, with Walker as the focal point in attack booting five goals, and Podsiadly working into defence to gather 19 possessions as well as kicking a goal of his own.
"I feel really good, I spend a lot of time on recovery and doing some extras there – I think every AFL player does that now," he said.
"I've played 10 games and 'Tex' has come in the last couple of weeks. I feel comfortable playing with Tex and I'm sure he feels the same way.
"I think the forward line is gelling nicely, but I think we've still got a lot of work to do."
Meanwhile, Jared Petrenko won't be taking any immediate role in attack after it was revealed he had suffered a stress fracture in his lower right leg.
Petrenko has battled similar injuries in the past, and Crows football manager Phil Harper said he would miss up to six weeks of football.
"Jared has been diagnosed with a small stress fracture and is wearing a moonboot," Harper said.
"He requires rest before slowly building up his training workload in preparation to play again."
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