Werribee captain James Podsiadly has capped a stunning season by winning the 2008 J.J. Liston Trophy tonight.
Podsiadly, 27, became the fourth Werribee player to win Victorian football’s highest individual honour when he emerged victorious after a thrilling vote count at Moonee Valley.
Podsiadly polled one vote in round 19 to move his tally to 16 votes and was one vote clear of Sandringham’s Peter Summers and Williamstown’s Brett Johnson.
After a gripping final round of votes, Podsiadly held on when both his challengers failed to poll a vote in the last round.
A veteran of 165 VFL games, his brilliant year was noted as he polled four best-on-ground games. This season, he booted 73 goals from 20 games and finished just one goal behind Sandringham’s Nicholas Sautner in the ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal.
Podsiadly joins Werribee greats Michael Frost (1998), Paul Satterley (1995) and Anthony Eames (1991) as Liston Trophy winners.
Posiadly is considered the pre-eminent power forward in the VFL and won the 2005 Werribee Tigers best and fairest and the 2005 ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal.
He has represented Victoria three times and been a VFL Team of the Year player three times.
Earlier in the season, Podsiadly was vice-captain of Victoria against South Australia.
Podsiadly led the Werribee Tigers into Sunday’s Preliminary Final against North Ballarat at TEAC Oval at 2.10pm after a stellar eight-goal game against Casey.
The winner will take on the winner of Saturday’s 2.10pm Preliminary Final between Port Melbourne and Williamstown at TEAC Oval.
The 2008 VFL Grand Final will be played on Friday, September 26 at Telstra Dome.
2008 J.J. Liston Trophy count – final leader board:
James Podsiadly (Werribee Tigers) 16
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 16/09/2008 09:48