Mitch Podhajski

Mitch Podhajski
Podhajski representing the VFL in the 2026 VFL State of Origin match
Personal information
Full name Mitchell Podhajski
Nickname Pods[1]
Born (1999-01-04) 4 January 1999
Australia
Original teams
Draft No. 18, 2026 mid-season rookie draft
Debut Round 13, 2026, Collingwood vs. Melbourne, at the MCG
Height 192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Position Key forward
Other occupation Podiatrist
Club information
Current club Collingwood
Number 46
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2026– Collingwood 2 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 15, 2026.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Mitchell Podhajski (born 4 January 1999) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Podhajski grew up playing for the Greenvale Football Club in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL), before representing the Calder Cannons in the Talent League in his draft year. After going undrafted in the 2017 national draft, he joined Coburg in the Victorian Football League (VFL), playing 103 games there across nine seasons.

He was recruited as a mature-age rookie by the Collingwood Football Club with pick 18 (the club's third selection) in the 2026 mid-season rookie draft, after Jamie Elliott was placed on the inactive list following a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. A key forward, Podhajski made his debut in round 13 of the 2026 AFL season, in the King's Birthday match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against Melbourne, kicking one goal.

Early life

Mitchell Podhajski was born on 4 January 1999 in Wallan, Victoria.[2] He was educated at St. Bernard's College, in Essendon, Victoria.[3]

Career

Junior career

Podhajski played junior football for the Greenvale Football Club in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL).[4] He played Talent League football for the Calder Cannons.[5] In 2017, he also represented Vic Metro in the Under 18 Championships.[6]

VFL career

After going undrafted in the 2017 national draft, Podhajski joined the Coburg Football Club in the VFL.[7] There, he played as an intercept defender and occasional inside midfielder.[8]

Towards the end of the 2023 VFL season, Coburg coach Jamie Cassidy-McNamara switched Podhajski to the forward line.[7] Though his following year was interrupted by injury,[9] with Podhajski ending the 2024 season with 13 goals from six games,[10] his move forward proved successful in 2025. In the 2025 VFL season, Podhajski kicked 54 goals from 18 games to poll second in the Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal,[11] and be named in the 2025 VFL Team of the Year.[12] Following his move to the forward line, Podhajski kicked 111 goals from 38 games for Coburg.[8] He played a total of 103 games for Coburg across 9 seasons.[13]

AFL career

Podhajski was drafted by the Collingwood Football Club with pick 18 of the 2026 mid-season rookie draft.[14][15] He was selected to make his debut in round 13 of the 2026 AFL season, in the King's Birthday match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against Melbourne.[16] Debuting at 27 years, 5 months and 5 days, Podhajski is the oldest currently listed AFL player to make their debut.[17]

Personal life

Podhajski graduated from La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Masters degree in Podiatric Practice.[18] In 2025, he completed a master of sports medicine at the University of Melbourne.[7]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 15, 2026.[19]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2026 Collingwood 46 2 1 3 14 7 21 5 4 0.5 1.5 7.0 3.5 10.5 2.5 2.0
Career 2 1 3 14 7 21 5 4 0.5 1.5 7.0 3.5 10.5 2.5 2.0 0

References

  1. ^ "Pods to play!". Collingwood Football Club. 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026 – via Facebook.
  2. ^ "Mitch Podhajski". AFL Media. 28 May 2026. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  3. ^ Michel, Tim (29 May 2017). "AFL draft prospect Mitch Podhajski enjoying breakout TAC Cup season with Calder Cannons". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2026 – via Mooney Vallee Leader.
  4. ^ Murray, Tara (29 May 2026). "Four locals drafted". Northern Star Weekly. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  5. ^ "Mitchell Podhajski Draft Profile". Rookie Me Central. 2017. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  6. ^ "U18 Squads – 2017". Rookie Me Central. 2017. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  7. ^ a b c Gabelich, Josh (26 May 2026). "J-Pod 2.0? The new Magpie hoping to emulate Cat's remarkable career". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  8. ^ a b Beeck, Marcus (4 June 2026). "Collingwood makes huge King's Birthday selection call". Zero Hanger. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  9. ^ Burns, Connor (26 July 2024). "Draft hopes, injuries, and a bit of podiatry: The Mitch Podhajski story". Coburg Football Club. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  10. ^ "Season 2024 Coburg Goalkickers". VFL Stats. 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  11. ^ Wood, Lauren. "McLaughlin claims 2025 "Frosty" Miller Medal". Williamstown Football Club. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  12. ^ Coburg FC [@coburgfc]; (15 September 2025). "Congratulations to Jack, Joel, Donovan & Mitch on being selected in the 2025 VFL Team of the Year!". Retrieved 4 June 2026 – via Instagram.
  13. ^ "Congratulations Mitch Podhajski". Coburg Football Club. 28 May 2026. Archived from the original on 5 June 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  14. ^ Beveridge, Riley (26 May 2026). "Who did your club just take? Every mid-season draft pick". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  15. ^ Amy, Paul (27 May 2026). "Podiatrist to Pie: Collingwood snaps up mature-age forward Mitch Podhajski". The Australian. Archived from the original on 5 June 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  16. ^ "Forward to debut". Collingwood Football Club. 4 June 2026. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  17. ^ "AFL Tables - Miscellaneous Player Records". afltables.com. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  18. ^ "Mitchell Podhajski". Talaria Podiatrist. 26 May 2026. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  19. ^ "Mitch Podhajski". AFL Tables. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
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