By Callum Ludwig
The newest batch of inductees as life members of AFL Outer East were announced ahead of the season’s start, featuring stars and stalwarts of clubs across the league.
Powelltown’s Peter ‘Pods’ Podolinsky may have had his career cut short by a debilitating hamstring injury, and might not have masterminded a premiership win as a coach, but a rare recognition of his excellent efforts as former president of the club was enough for him to be a part of this year’s cohort.
Friend and fellow former Powelltown footballer John Hajder made the submission to recognise Mr Podolinsky and said Pete has been phenomenal for the club.
“Back when Pete was 19, the trainer Pat Dunne convinced him to join the committee, so he was involved very early on but went away to start a family, though he kept in touch with the football club and watched the odd game,” he said.
“When the club went into recession, Peter wanted to come back so he jumped back on the committee with his wife Judy and helped get the club back out, and we didn’t play for one year but Peter supported people like myself while I was president for two years before being president for eight years himself.
Mr Podolinsky was already Powelltown’s league delegate at the age of 18 and club secretary before he was 19/20 years old. He’s now been involved with the club for over 50 years.
Mr Hajder said all the guys at Powellltown love Pete.
“There’s a job there that needs to be done, Pete just goes and does it. Jeff Mooney at the moment is the President there and even says he couldn’t do it without Pete,” he said.
“Pete and I pushed for the new clubrooms for twelve years, and we got those over the line and they are being built now, which will be tremendous for the club.”
Mr Podolinsky’s playing career started in the U12s at Powelltown when he was only eight, going on to rack up 162 junior games, winning the best and forest and holding the captaincy in the u17s. He went on to win a Seniors best and fairest in 1975 and played 110 games before retiring.
