FOOTBALL NATION OPINION
FOR Geelong not to offer James Podsiadly a new contract next season, it shows that Geelong’s premiership windows is perhaps closed and that it thinks it needs to at least slightly rebuild after seven consecutive seasons of being a powerhouse.
The Cats, who have won three flags during that time, will lose premiership players Paul Chapman, Josh Hunt and Podsiadly and are likely to also lose Joel Corey and perhaps Trent West, who had to bide his time mainly in the VFL last season.
The Podsiadly omission is an intriguing one given the question mark surrounding the long-term fitness of Tom Hawkins.
At 32, Podsiadly still believes he has a lot to offer the football world and arguably he was the Cats most important player heading into the 2013 finals series given Hawkins’ injury worries.
Podsiadly was plucked as a mature age recruit at 28; well over due after a brilliant VFL career at Werribee and Geelong. He was a fairytale story but it was a clever recruiting move by the Cats as Pods filled a gap on the forward line with ease.
The Cats will hope they can further develop Shane Kersten, who has been a revelation in the VFL, and Josh Walker. They also hope their ruckmen can finally get some good luck with injuries as Dawson Simpson and Hamish McIntosh look to return from long stints on the sideline.
Nathan Vardy, too, will also be important perhaps to provide that third tall option on the forward line.
The Cats, who have been so mighty and intimidating, suddenly look a little vulnerable.
Their recruiting team are also not completely sold that all of its midfield group can take them further despite the talented stock they have available.
They are chasing GWS youngster Taylor Adams and may look to add some experience if it can attract Heath Shaw as a rebounding defender. Of course, that would contradict there early message of out with some old and in with some new and young.
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