By Ben Carbonaro
Werribee skipper James Podsiadly was rewarded for his outstanding season this year, winning the JJ Liston Trophy by a single vote at Monee Valley on Monday night.
He polled one vote in the round 19 clash against Bendigo Bombers to move clear of Sandringham’s Peter Summers and Williamstown’s Brett Johnson in a thrilling climax.
The 27-year-old power forward fell one goal short of Sandringham’s Nick Sautner, who claimed the Frosty Miller Medal but overcame the disappointment by claiming state football’s most coveted individual honour.
Podsiadly didn’t rate his chances before the count, and attended along with team-mate Michael Barlow and general manager Mark Penaluna. He still left the venue a proud man.
“I thought with kicking the second most goals I might make team of the year for forward pocket or something like that and obviously being captain I get invited, but (didn’t expect to win) at all,” he said.
Podsiadly became the fourth Tigers player and first since former captain Michael Frost (1998) to win the coveted individual award.
Former Northern Knights coach Paul Satterley (1995) and Anthony Eames (1991) are the two other players to win the award while plying their trade for the Tigers.
Tigers coach Simon Atkins has been particularly impressed with the combination his captain had with Kangaroos-listed Leigh Brown and to a lesser extent, Nathan Thompson
“I just think that as a coach you’ve got three power forwards down there and we’ve been really lucky to have that,” he said.
“I think they’ve worked really well (together) and it’s enabled us to play them in different positions, it’s just a luxury we’ve had this season.”
Tennis was the preferred sport for the former St Paul’s Altona student, who first played serious football as a 17-year-old and after showing some talent, was given an opportunity with TAC Cup club Western Jets.
He played 11 games for the Jets in 1999 and was then rookie-listed with Essendon in 2000, later playing for Williamstown as a rookie on Collingwood’s list.
Other awards during the night included Coburg Tigers midfielder Glen Carrick taking out the A Todd Medal for best reserves player and speedy Port Melbourne small forward Robin Nahas the Fothergill-Round Medal as best under-23 player.
JJ Liston Trophy Leader Board
James Podsiadly (Werribee Tigers) 16 votes
Brett Johnson (Williamstown), Peter Summers (Sandringham) 15
Greg Tivendale (Coburg Tigers), Paul Kennedy (Frankston) and Brett Goodes (North Ballarat) 14
Marcus Marigliani (Frankston), Thomas Roach (North Ballarat), John Baird (Port Melbourne), Shane Valenti (Sandringham) 13
Last Modified on 14/01/2009 17:49