GEELONG's new full-forward James Podsiadly is a 28-year-old rookie who, in his debut year, has made the dominant reigning premiers even stronger.

What a remarkable and refreshing thing to happen. 

Just when we think we've seen it all, a new and unpredictable event comes out of left field.

Not only has Podsiadly become an instant star in the AFL's best team, his emergence from obscurity is providing an inspiration to us all.

Certainly at Skilled Stadium last Saturday, the crowd's biggest cheers were reserved for their new cult hero.

The game certainly needed something different to stir the emotions. Heavy favourites against the visiting Melbourne, the Cats were so in control from start to finish that the competitive tension in the air was nil.

Fortunately, their first-year mature age full-forward was a reason to get excited.

Forget his age; forget it is his first year, the fact is 'Pods' is already a very valuable player package.

The best marking forwards need an understanding of when and where to lead, speed to get clear, strength and balance in the body-to-body duels, one-touch marking and accurate disposal.

Podsiadly has all these attributes plus the ability to get up field to find the footy, which allows the Cats to use a number of other players out of the full-forward slot.

He does not dominate the Geelong forward-50 but, importantly, fits in with their preferred and successful multi-pronged approach.

 And to think he has never been on the primary list of any AFL club.

Rookie listed be Essendon in 2000, and by Collingwood in 2002, Podsiadly is living proof that some players mature late.

It would appear he was not ready to be an AFL player in his early-20s and was then overlooked as tried-and-failed until falling into Geelong's hands via his employment on its conditioning staff.

Some strong performances as part of the Cats' VFL team last year, and against the Scarletts and Taylors during match practice, earned him a rookie berth.

The rest, as they say, is history.

The theory that there are many Podisadlys running around in secondary competitions around the country has all of a sudden gained considerable currency.

While this romantic notion is possible, for me it is more likely that the Podsiadly story will be very much the exception not the rule.

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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.