Retiring Crow James Podsiadly is the recipient of the 2015 Phil Walsh Best Team Man Award.

The honour is a reflection of the influence Podsiadly, who didn’t play an AFL game this season, has on the Adelaide playing group.

The 34-year-old, who announced his retirement during the week, put the team ahead of himself in what he knew would be his final season. He acted as a mentor the Club’s emerging players and urged selectors to develop a budding key-position player rather than recall him to the senior team, despite his impressive SANFL form.

Podsiadly also showed great leadership following the tragic passing of Senior Coach Phil Walsh, assuming additional responsibility in the football department.

The strong-marking utility, who had to wait until age 28 to make his AFL debut, retires after 104 games, including 21 for the Crows. He was a member of Geelong’s 2011 premiership team and also led the Cats goalkicking that season.

Presented every year since the Club's inaugural season, the Best Team Man award recognises the most selfless player who lives and breathes 'team first'. Captain Taylor Walker and midfield pair Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas are the other current Crows to have received the prestigious award.

On Saturday night, it was announced that the award would be renamed the ‘Phil Walsh Best Team Man Award’ in honour of the late coach and his ‘team-first’ mantra.

Past Best Team Man award winners
1991 – Rodney Maynard
1992 – Mark Bickley
1993 – Mark Bickley
1994 – Mark Ricciuto
1995 – Rodney Jameson
1996 – Matthew Robran
1997 – Kym Koster
1998 – Peter Caven
1999 – Mark Stevens
2000 – Mark Bickley
2001 – Tyson Stenglein
2002 – Mark Stevens
2003 – Mark Ricciuto
2004 – Matthew Clarke
2005 – Nathan Bassett
2006 – Simon Goodwin
2007 – Scott Stevens
2008 – Michael Doughty
2009 – Brad Symes
2010 – Scott Stevens
2011 – Michael Doughty
2012 – Sam Jacobs
2013 – Richard Douglas
2014 – Taylor Walker
2015 – James Podsiadly