WHEN he finally reaches his 100-game milestone against Collingwood on Sunday, Adelaide forward James Podsiadly will be most pleased for those who have stuck with him through the tough times.

And there have been plenty.

Podsiadly was forced to fight long past the point most give up to win an AFL debut, and was often told he wasn't good enough.

His family and wife, Claire, have been by his side the whole time, celebrating his highs and enduring the lows.

The 32-year-old said he was looking forward to seeing the satisfaction on their faces.

"I think I tried out for about six different clubs and everyone had something different to say … I wasn't quick enough, I wasn't fit enough, a couple of blokes said I wasn't strong enough," Podsiadly said.

"I just went away and worked on it, so it probably helped me out and made me the player I am.

"My family and my wife, they've been with me over the journey as well, so to see them and hopefully their reaction when I do play 100, I'll be pretty happy for them."

Although Podsiadly hasn't dwelled on the rejections, he has remembered his doubters.

Their words mightn't carry the same venom they once did, but they're stored somewhere in his mind and have proved valuable ammunition.

"Those times you get rejected and get told you're not good enough [were tough], but that only probably lasts a day and the next phase of it is just using that for motivation," he said.

"I have, to be honest, used some of those people who have told me I probably wasn't going to make it - I've used them for motivation to try and take the next step.

"It's in the back of my mind."

In hindsight, Podsiadly knows he was too immature when he had his first opportunities to make it into the big time.

He was delisted by both Essendon and Collingwood and said that once a player was out of the system the road back was arduous.

But his self-belief has proved the most durable of assets and, in his fifth season since he made his AFL debut for the Cats, Podsiadly will become a 100-game player.

"I didn't know the game, I wasn't physically mature, mentally mature, so it took me a while," he said.

"When I was 22 or 23 I thought that I could go to that next level but when you're out of the system it's really hard to get back in.
"I just always believed I could play AFL footy - there's definitely a lesson to be learnt."

Not only will Sunday's clash against the Magpies be a memorable game for Podsiadly, it's a crucial match for the Crows, who could move into the top eight with a win.

The side returned to training on Monday after its week off and Podsiadly said players appeared well rested and physically recovered.
He said the key to victory at the MCG would be Adelaide's tackling pressure.

"I think we had 90-odd tackles against Collingwood last time … you give those guys time and space, they're a very talented side with a dangerous forward line," he said.

"We've got to really pressure them."