Geelong premiership player James Podsiadly has agreed to join the Adelaide Football Club on a two-year deal.

The Crows will now work with the Cats to determine Podsiadly’s path to West Lakes.

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 played 23 of a possible 25 games this season. He’s 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 experienced goalkicker will provide excellent support for Adelaide’s developing forwards, including young, key talls Taylor Walker, 23, and Josh Jenkins, 24, who are both on the comeback trail from serious leg injuries.

General Manager of List Development and Strategy David Noble said the Club was thrilled Podsiadly had chosen to join the Crows.

“We’re delighted James has selected us as his club of choice,” Noble said.

“James has plenty of good footy left in him. He is a strong contested mark and a proven goalkicker, who will add firepower to our forward line, and can also play in defence.

“He’s an experienced, premiership player from a highly-successful football environment. We see James playing a similar role to Ben Rutten in terms of mentoring our key-position players.”

Podsiadly said he was thrilled to continue his career at the Crows.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to play AFL at a successful club,” Podsiadly said.

“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.

“From a physical and mental point of view, I’m in great shape and very motivated to continue my improvement in the AFL. I want to continue to work on my game with the Adelaide coaches and become a better player.

“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 played a slightly different role in 2013, pushing up the ground to provide a target and also switching with utility Harry Taylor in defence. He generated a career-high 61 inside 50ms and kicked 33 goals. He also averaged a personal-best 14 possessions and six marks.

The high-marking forward 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) – new Crows teammate Eddie Betts is ranked No.1.

Podsiadly, who also spent time at Essendon and Collingwood before being recruited by Geelong, made his AFL debut in 2010 at the age of 28. He played under Adelaide coach and former Cats assistant Brenton Sanderson, and alongside Crows defensive coach, Darren Milburn.

Visit afc.com.au/adelaideoval and learn more about Crows membership at Adelaide’s new home ground