New recruit James Podsiadly says being reunited with Brenton Sanderson was a bonus, and not the determining factor, in his decision to join the Crows.

On Friday, Podsiadly agreed to a two-year deal with Adelaide.

A former assistant coach at Geelong, Brenton Sanderson was the forward line coach in the Club’s 2011 premiership year. Podsiadly also played alongside Crows defensive coach Darren Milburn.

“The connection with ‘Sando’ is probably just a nice little side-story because he coached me at Geelong. Feeling wanted by the Club in general was a greater feeling than playing under Sando again,” Podsiadly told afc.com.au.

“The most attractive aspect was the way David Noble and the Club presented their vision of where they want to take this group and the Club going forward. Brenton was actually away for most of the time I’d been talking to Adelaide.

“In saying that, one of the things I love about playing under Sando is that he’s one of the most energetic coaches I’ve ever come across. I love that about him and am keen to play under him.”

Podsiadly’s decision came two days after he toured West Lakes in a whirlwind trip to Adelaide.

Any hope Podsiadly and the Crows had of keeping the meeting a secret was ruined when the 32-year-old and his wife, Claire, were paged at Melbourne Airport on their way to the gate. Podsiadly was greeted by television cameras upon his arrival in Adelaide, and journalists also followed him when he ventured to Henley Beach for lunch with Sanderson and Adelaide officials.

“Being over in Adelaide for a day and bumping into some of the local community, their support straight away was quite overwhelming to be honest,” Podsiadly said.

“I hadn’t even made a decision to join Adelaide, but people stopped me and said, ‘I hope you come here’. It was a nice feeling and I look forward to getting to know the Crows community, members and supporters over the next couple of years.”

Surprisingly let go by Geelong after playing 23 games this season, Podsiadly attracted interest from several clubs, including at least one in his native Victoria. But in the end the strong-marking forward and his wife made the decision to relocate interstate and pursue a career at the Crows.

“I’ve got a wife and also business in Victoria, so the decision wasn’t made in haste,” he said.

“We see it now as a bit of an adventure. What Adelaide presented not only to me but to Claire was sensational. The most attractive aspect was the way David Noble and the Club presented their vision of where they want to take this group and the Club going forward. I’m very excited about the opportunity … and that’s all it is at the moment, an opportunity.

“I’m excited about starting the pre-season in a new state, at a new club and with a new group of guys. I can’t wait to get over there and get started."

Podsiadly, 32, has only been in the AFL system for four years, having been plucked from Geelong’s VFL team, where he held a dual role as a player and fitness coach, in the 2010 Rookie Draft.

The durable goalkicker has played a career total of 83 games, averaging 42 goals a season. Podsiadly was a crucial part of Geelong’s premiership success in 2011, slotting 52 goals for the year.

A fierce competitor and aerialist, Podsiadly is ranked 2^nd in the AFL in contested marks (behind Collingwood star Travis Cloke) in the last four years (2010-13).

The proven goalkicker will also add to Adelaide’s defensive pressure in attack, which has been a key focus this offseason. Podsiadly ranked 8^th in the AFL in forward 50m tackles in 2013. He’s ranked 7^th in the AFL for tackles inside 50m in the past four years (2010-13) –Eddie Betts, who has also joined the Club this offseason, is ranked No.1.

Podsiadly said he was confident he had plenty of good footy left in him.

“From a physical and mental point of view, I’m in great shape and very motivated to continue my improvement in the AFL,” he said.

“I want to continue to work on my game with the Adelaide coaches and become a better player. It’s a two-year deal … but if it gets down to a young player developing the year after (2015) I’m not going to stand in their way. I want to play my role at the Club and, hopefully, that’ll be over the next two years.

“One of the things that inspired me to choose the Crows was speaking to some of their players and getting to know them. They’re a hungry, young group that want success and they want it quickly. They’ve got some elite players already and those players are only going to get better.”

Podsiadly, who has a physical performance background, indicated there was also an opportunity for him to remain at West Lakes after his playing days.

“Whether there’s a role at the Club once I’ve finished playing can probably only be determined then, but all indications are the Crows are willing to help my personal development in that area. That was definitely another factor.”

Podsiadly will head overseas next week and officially begin life as a Crow in mid-late November.