Source: Geelong Advertiser
GEELONG VFL captain James Podsiadly will today front up against his old club, Werribee, for the first time since his shock switch at the end of last season.
The Cats host the Tigers in the AFL curtain-raiser at Skilled Stadium this morning, but Podsiadly said he wasn't expecting any fireworks from the club he captained and won a Liston Trophy at last year.
"I've had a really busy week work-wise, so I haven't thought too much about it, but I'm just looking forward to playing a game of footy. That's the way I've looked at it," Podsiadly said yesterday.
"To be honest, the way the guys at the footy club have made me feel welcome, I feel at home at Geelong anyway, so it doesn't feel weird playing for Geelong, or against Werribee.
"My best mate is Dave Johnson, and has been for nine or 10 years, so having him at the club has helped fitting in easier.
"I speak to (Werribee captain) Dom Gleeson often, I catch up with him once a week, and we caught up this week but nothing was said. They'll be desperate for a win, and so will we."
There's good reason the Cats will be desperate for a win today too, after a winless 0-3 start to the season.
Podsiadly can see similarities between the Cats of 2009, and Werribee of 2008, which won one game from its first four, before finishing fourth by the end of season.
"Zero-and-three is not where we want to be, but last year Werribee was in a similar position - we had a bit of a changeover on the list," he said.
"But I think there were good signs for us last week. If we can play like we did in that third quarter for four quarters, then we're going to trouble some sides."
The Cats will be strengthened today with the return of Nathan Djerrkura (AFL emergency last week), Brodie Moles (ankle), Matt Firman (hamstring) and Johnson.
Rookie Adam Varcoe, brother of Travis, will also play his first game for his new club, after coming back from a knee injury.
The load on Podsiadly up forward will become even greater from this week, with Scott Simpson to miss up to three months after breaking his ankle, just weeks after another young forward, Mitch Brown, broke his leg.
If there is added attention coming to Podsiadly in the next few weeks and months, he's going to make the most of it.
"Ryan Gamble is a dangerous forward and sides have got to respect him," he said. "There's not too much pressure on me; I put pressure on myself anyway.
"If teams think I'm the only key forward and I can only kick two goals a game and the other guys can kick four or five, then I'm happy with that."
Gates open at 10.30am, with the game starting at 10.40am.
