GEELONG VFL captain James Podsiadly is not one to reflect mid-season, but if he was, he would label this season the favourite of his decorated career.
Podsiadly, who took out VFL's JJ Liston Trophy at Werribee last year, became the biggest VFL transfer in recent years when he defected to the Cats this season after landing a job in the club's fitness department.
The boom recruit has delivered 60 goals in 14 matches as he leads a side that has blossomed into one of the in-form teams in the VFL after a sluggish start to the season.
On Saturday, the VFL Cats, riding a five-game winning streak, can all but seal their finals destiny with a victory over eighth-placed Sandringham at Skilled Stadium.
"I'm loving it because we're winning and that's the main thing," Podsiadly said.
"From an individual point of view, I try and reflect after the end of the season, but if I keeping going the way I'm going and the team keeps winning, it's definitely the best year I've had playing footy."
The seventh-placed Cats have fielded a record average of almost 10 VFL players every week, with Podsiadly putting his side's resurgence down to the sustained improvement of a young squad.
Podsiadly declared local stars Casey Tutungi (Lorne), Ben Raidme (Grovedale) and Ben Johnson (Bell Park) perfect candidates for any AFL club next season.
"Those three guys are all probably a chance to be listed at any AFL club really, even Matty Firman as well, but those guys in particular have improved out of sights and have a lot of improvement left in them," he said. "The young guys here are really willing to learn, it makes my job a lot easier being a leader out on the ground, trying to team them new things."
Geelong confirmed last night Brad Ottens would again play in the VFL, provided he gets through the required training tomorrow.
The Cats have enjoyed an often-fierce rivalry with Sandringham over recent years.
The teams clashed in the 2006 VFL grand final, which the Zebras won, while the Cats went within a whisker of a record-breaking comeback victory in round one, 2007, after being 11 goals down.
"If we keep winning we'll enter the finals being the in-form team of the competition and you never know what could happen," Podsiadly said.
