HOW DO you make one of the greatest teams of all time - one considered by many to be already perfect in every way - better?
Well, it seems you just pluck a 28 year-old big man from your fitness staff/reserves, plonk him inside 50 alongside your two incumbent key forwards, settle back and watch the goals flow.
That’s been the extraordinary sequence of events down at the Cattery, with the introduction of James Podsiadly into an already potent forward line delivering results beyond anyone’s expectations.
Podsiadly’s goalkicking prowess has been well documented - he has kicked 23 for the season, equal 12th on the Coleman Medal ladder ahead of the likes of his key forward teammate Cam Mooney and Hawthorn star Lance Franklin.
But it’s Pods’ contested marking that has been the real feature of his game.
The former VFL legend turned Geelong crowd favourite leads the AFL in contested marks this season. He has hauled in an impressive 26 contested grabs from just seven games, putting him just in front of Aaron Sandilands (25 in 10 matches) and Travis Cloke (23 in 10).
Individual contested marks 2010
| Player | CM | Mts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Podsiadly (GEEL) | 26 | 7 |
| 2 | Aaron Sandilands (FRE) | 25 | 10 |
| 3 | Travis Cloke (COLL) | 23 | 10 |
| 4 | Jack Riewoldt (RICH) | 22 | 10 |
| 5 | Jonathan Brown (BL) | 21 | 10 |
| 6 | Kurt Tippett (ADEL) | 20 | 10 |
| 7 | Brendon Goddard (STK) | 19 | 10 |
| 8 | Cameron Mooney (GEEL) | 18 | 9 |
| =9 | Brian Lake (WB) | 17 | 10 |
| =9 | Jarryd Roughead (HAW) | 17 | 10 |
| =9 | Barry Hall (WB) | 17 | 10 |
Fifteen of Pods’ contested marks have been taken inside 50, placing him equal second in the land.
James Podisadly - 2010 contested mark map
Such impressive figures from the old new-boy have catapulted the Cats to the top of yet another statistical ranking.
Club contested marks 2010
| Club | CM | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geelong | 149 |
| 2 | Collingwood | 127 |
| 3 | Fremantle | 126 |
| 4 | St Kilda | 119 |
| 5 | Western Bulldogs | 116 |
| 6 | Essendon | 106 |
| 7 | Melbourne | 105 |
| 8 | Carlton | 104 |
| 9 | Brisbane Lions | 102 |
| 10 | Adelaide Crows | 101 |
| =11 | Port Adelaide | 100 |
| =11 | Sydney Swans | 100 |
| 13 | North Melbourne | 96 |
| 14 | West Coast Eagles | 92 |
| 15 | Hawthorn | 89 |
| 16 | Richmond | 84 |
Already dominant for the past three years in a number of the major stats, they’re now a clear leader in the contested marks department too.
This year Geelong is averaging 14.9 contested marks per game, up from 11.36 per game in 2009 and 11.09 in 2008. It’s the highest average by a team since 2003.
All up, the Cats have snaffled 149 contested marks in 2010. That’s 22 more than their nearest rival, Collingwood.
And the aerial dominance is showing on the scoreboard. Geelong has bagged 93 goals from marks - 24 more than any other team.
All this is clear evidence to suggest that concerns about the viability of a three big-man forward line down at Kardinia Park are misplaced.
And it’s not a bad indicator of another appointment with the last Saturday in September for the Cats either.
