Assistant coach James Podsiadly has put forward a theory for Rory Atkins’ eye-catching new hairstyle.

Atkins attracted plenty of attention when he turned up to Adelaide Airport with peroxide blonde hair last Friday as the Crows prepared to fly out to the Gold Coast.

Speaking on afc.com.au’s regular The Pods Cast, released every game day of Crows matches at Adelaide Oval, Podsiadly suggested Rat’s controversial look was part of a bigger strategy.

“He told me it was the fact that he’s never had a Brownlow vote and he thought it may get him a vote!” Podsiadly said.

“I was in the security queue with him (Atkins) at the airport and the media just had a circus around him!

“I was trying to dodge cameras and get out of the way of photos because people wanted to post it on Twitter.

“I like his hair. It’s him.”

The cunning plan might’ve worked for Atkins, who gathered 29 possessions, eight inside 50ms and a goal in Adelaide’s big win over the Suns.

Atkins revealed that Pods Cast co-host Josh Jenkins and teammate Brodie Smith had helped talk him into going blonde.

“I was getting my hair cut and was thinking about changing it up a bit. I thought, ‘Why not?’” Atkins said.

“I was sitting there with one of my close teammates Brodie Smith. He was one of the ones to egg me on.

“He probably didn’t really think it was a good idea and thought it would just be a bit of a laugh!

“I went with it and it ended up getting a bit of attention throughout the week.”

Atkins was also accused by the boys of making another attention-seeking move last weekend.

Listen to the Pods Cast below to hear more, including a phone call prank on Taylor Walker gone wrong!