Liam Podhajski’s dominant display leads Calder Cannons past Tasmania

Despite wet and windy conditions, Calder Cannons’ 202cm prospect Liam Podhajski put on a dominant display to lead his team past Tasmania in a thriller.

Oliver Davies tries to escape three Calder opponents. Picture: Linda Higginson

Calder Cannons ruckman Liam Podhajski has given AFL recruiters a taste of his potential with a brilliant showing in Tasmania.

The 19-year-old big man was dominant in the Cannons’ thrilling one-point win over the Devils, played in wet and windy conditions at Launceston’s Windsor Park.

Despite the weather, the 202cm prospect collected 21 disposals, 40 hitouts, a team-high six tackles, five clearances and a goal.

The performance is sure to catch the eye of clubs looking to bolster their ruck stocks.

Cannons coach Ross Smith said Podhajski dragged his team over the line in the 5.11 (41) to 5.10 (40) NAB League win.

Liam Podhajski wins the tap over Eastern’s Jack Diedrich. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Flynn Lakey in action for Calder Cannons. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“He was the difference in the end and probably willed us over the line, his ruck work late in the game was really good,” he said.

“The further the game went the better he got, 21 touches is a lot for a ruckman, he only took one mark but that was a little bit to do with where I positioned him defensively.

“I’m looking forward to pushing him into some VFL footy in the coming months, I think he’ll do well.”

Podhajski was one of five Cannons to collect 20 or more disposals, along with Flynn Lakey (25), (23), Flynn Gentile (21) and Josh Goater (20).

Trailing by nine points at half-time Calder came out firing in the third quarter, kicking 3.3 while holding Tasmania to a single behind.

The Devils had the wind in the final quarter but could only manage 1.6 to fall agonisingly short.

“Flynn (Lakey) is very clean in close and Harrison has traditionally played up forward but played onball in the second half against Eastern and did really well,” Smith said.

“I thought Joey Dimasi was one of our best as well, we started him down back in Round 1 but we threw him into the midfield rotation and he’s paid us back in spades.

Josh Goater in action for Calder Cannons. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Kyle Borg attempts the spectacular against the Western Jets. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Jackson Cardillo looked dangerous all day up forward but unfortunately kicked three points, he could have had four or five goals.”

It is Calder’s first win of the NAB League season but after just three games now go on a month-long break.

Smith said the club would look to farm out as many of its players to VFL club as possible to keep them playing at a high level and under the noses of recruiters.

“Liam trained at Coburg over the pre-season and his brother Mitch is there,” he said.

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“We go into a break now, ours starts a week early, so we’ll be pushing as many of our 19-year-olds to the VFL as we possibly can.

“We’ve had a player train at Werribee, one train at Box Hill, three train at Coburg and the rest at Essendon.

“Calder is aligned to Coburg and Essendon, so they’ll get first crack, and if they don’t want them then there’s opportunities for other stand-alone clubs to come in.”

The Cannons next NAB League game isn’t until May 23 against Bendigo Pioneers.