TAC Cup: Close mates Jack Bytel and Mitch Podhajski to lead Calder Cannons as co-captains

JACK Bytel had nothing but admiration for his teammate and close friend Mitch Podhajski last year.

Jack Bytel has admired the resolve shown by his TAC Cup co-captain Mitch Podhajski. Picture: Mark Dadswell.

JACK Bytel had nothing but admiration for his teammate and close friend Mitch Podhajski.

Minutes after last year’s AFL rookie draft had finished, Bytel knew Podhajski would be coming to terms with the fact he had been overlooked.

The key defender was considered one of Calder Cannons’ best AFL prospects in 2017, yet missed out despite attending the national draft combine.

Bytel was in Darwin with the AFL academy when the draft unfolded.

“All the boys were refreshing the rookie draft,” Bytel said.

“I was pretty confident he would get picked. Straight after it I messaged him, and I sent him a pretty long message.

“Basically straight away he said ‘thanks and all that’ but he was on to the next thing.

“He basically went ‘this is my plan and where I’m going to go’.

“I know a lot of people, it takes a toll and you are shattered for a few weeks.

“He basically just kept working and working. Something I have taken out of it, you can overcome things and it’s just how you deal with it.”

Podhajski’s setback has offered him a unique opportunity to captain Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup alongside one of his mates.

Mitch Podhajski lays a big tackle for Calder Cannons against Western Jets last year. Picture: Ian Currie.

Bytel and Podhajski were named co-captains of the Cannons this week and will lead the club for the first time on Friday against Western Jets.

The 18-year-old midfielder from Ascot Vale said he wanted to lead by example.

“Use my leadership qualities and bring others along. I want to help others get drafted,” he said.

Bytel is a prolific on-baller capable of pushing forward and hitting the scoreboard, traits which have already attracted attention from AFL clubs.

A product of the hugely successful Aberfeldie junior program, Bytel spent an eye-opening week training with Essendon during pre-season.

“I think the thing that splits me apart from the other contested-ball players is I am good at my clearances and I am good around stoppages,” he said.

Bytel, who will juggle AFL academy and TAC Cup duties this year, said he was confident of leading the Cannons back to finals.

“You look around and the players that are there, it’s almost too hard to tell (who will miss out),” he said.

“There’s so many good players. We have got a very good spine in our group and I think we can go all the way for sure.”